The short test with hydrochlorothiazide in differential diagnosis between primary normocalcemic and secondary hyperparathyroidism for inpatient treatment

BACKGROUND: Differential diagnosis between the normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism (nPHPT) and secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) due to hypercalciuria remains a challenge.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the capability of short test with hydrochlorothiazide for the differential diagnosis of nPHPT and SHPT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with the participation of 28 patients who underwent a functional test with thiazide diuretics during hospitalization in the Department of parathyroid glands pathology and mineral disorders of the Endocrinology Research Centre, Russia. Parameters of mineral metabolism were evaluated before and 3–5 days after taking hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg/day.

RESULTS: According to baseline and dynamic biochemical evaluation patients were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 (n=21) included patients with confirmed PHPT, who reached hypercalcemia accompanying with an elevated level of iPTH (n=19) or an increased level of iPTH accompanying with normocalcemia (n=2). In group 1, baseline Ca_adj. was 2.48 mmol/l [2.47; 2.52], iPTH 107.5 pg/ml [86.8; 133.0], after short test — 2.63 mmol/l [2.59; 2.66] and 102.1 pg/ml [95,7; 124,1]. Group 2 included only one who was diagnosed with SHPT, a normal value of iPTH with concomitant normocalcemia was achieved after 4 days of hydrochlorothiazide therapy (baseline Ca_adj. 2.35 mmol/l, iPTH 74.5 pg/ml vs at 2.27 mmol/l and 50.7 pg/ml respectively). Patients with doubtful results of the test entered in group 3 (n=6), they did not achieve significant changes in the calcium and iPTH levels, so it was recommended to continue the test on an outpatient basis (baseline Ca_adj. 2.39 mmol/l [2.33;2.45], iPTH 97.0 pg/ml [83.1;117.0]); after short test — 2.47 mmol/l [2.42; 2.48] and 91.3 pg/ml [86.9; 124.0] respectively). Groups with PHPT and SHPT and doubtful results significantly differed from each other in Ca_adj (р=0.003, U-test, Bonferroni correction Р₀=0.006), but not in iPTH, daily calciuria, eGFR, and phosphorus. There were no significant differences in the incidence of classical complications of PHPT.

CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of PHPT was confirmed in 21/28 patients 3–5 days after taking hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg/day. The obtained results are significant for the differential diagnosis in hospitalized patients with an unspecified genesis of hyperparathyroidism.

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