Iqra Mumal, MSc,  —

A new questionnaire devised from complaints of patients with hypoparathyroidism may better assess quality of life and the characteristic symptoms of the disorder, according to a study. The study, “The HPQ—Development and First Administration of a Questionnaire for Hypoparathyroid Patients,” was published in the journal JBMR Plus. Among…

Most people with uncontrolled, chronic hypoparathyroidism experience moderate-to-severe symptoms — even while on treatment — that lower their health-related quality of life (HRQoL), worsen their health status, and impact their ability to exercise or work, the results of a global survey show. The survey also found that greater symptom…

Despite treatment, all patients with hypoparathyroidism experience physical and psychological symptoms that negatively impact their quality of life, a study finds. The findings were presented in a poster, “Understanding the Patient-centered Impact of Hypoparathyroidism on Functioning and Well-being,” by Ascendis Pharma during the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting,…

Contrary to other thyroid-related complications, the incidence of hypoparathyroidism in patients who undergo a thyroidectomy — a common complication associated with this type of surgery — tends to decrease between the ages of 65 and 85, a study found. The study, “Age-Related Trends of Patients Undergoing Thyroidectomy: Analysis of US Inpatient Data from…

Measuring the levels of parathyroid hormone and blood calcium levels 24 hours after a total thyroidectomy (the surgical removal of the entire thyroid gland) can predict which patients may develop permanent hypoparathyroidism, according to researchers from China. Their study, “Prediction of permanent hypoparathyroidism by parathyroid hormone and serum…

Patients with small papillary thyroid cancers should not undergo a total thyroidectomy, but should instead be under active surveillance to monitor the cancer, or remove only a portion of the thyroid. This could avoid the patient developing hypoparathyroidism, according to a new perspective article. The article, “Saving…

With the increasing use of parathyroid hormone therapy in patients with hypoparathyroidism, physicians need to closely monitor urinary citrate levels which, if too low, may result in calcium deposits and kidney stones, according to researchers. Their study, “Hypocitraturia is an Untoward Side Effect of Synthetic Human Parathyroid Hormone…

Diagnoses other than epilepsy, including hypoparathyroidism, should be considered when a patient arrives at the emergency room with seizures, according to a new case study. The report, “Hypoparathyroidism Causing Seizures: When Epilepsy Does Not Fit,” was published in Case Reports in Medicine. Adult-onset seizures are not an uncommon…

Long-term treatment with the human recombinant parathyroid hormone (rhPTH) in patients with hypoparathyrodism causes significant and sustained changes in bone remodeling and structural changes to the bone, according to researchers. Their study, “The Effects of Long-term Administration of rhPTH(1-84) in Hypoparathyroidism by Bone Histomorphometry,” was published in the Journal of…

Transplant surgery that moves two or more parathyroid glands and places them elsewhere in a patient — a process called autotransplantation — can prevent postoperative hypoparathyroidism after the thyroid is totally removed in people with cancer in that gland, researchers report. Their study, “Postoperative hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy for thyroid cance…