Endothelial vasodilatory dysfunction in primary hyperparathyroidism is reversed after parathyroidectomy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is accompanied by hypertension and a cardiovascular mortality. Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation (EDV) occurs in hypertension but has not been fully investigated in HPT despite the vasoactive influences of parathyroid hormone. METHODS: Twenty-five HPT patients and 25 normocalcemic control subjects, matched for age and gender, underwent forearm venous occlusion plethysmography. EDV and endothelium-independent vasodilatation (EIDV) were evaluated during local infusion of metacholine (2 and 4 micrograms/min) and nitroprusside (5 and 10 micrograms/min), respectively. The endothelial function index was calculated as the ratio of forearm blood flows during the high doses of metacholine and nitroprusside. Ambulatory 24-hour blood pressures and thickness of the intima-media complex of the carotid arteries were also measured; the latter is considered an early marker of atherosclerosis. RESULTS: Endothelial function index was lower in the HPT patients compared with control subjects (1.01 +/- 0.26 vs 1.27 +/- 0.31, P = .003). Reinvestigation 10 months after parathyroidectomy showed normalization of the index (1.31 +/- 0.39, P = .01) due to a numeric increase in EDV and decrease in EIDV. The carotid intima-media thickness and blood pressure were similar in the groups and unaltered postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Endothelial vasodilatory dysfunction is another indicator of the vascular disturbance of HPT and can be normalized by parathyroidectomy.