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  Researchers have found that there is a gap in scientific knowledge regarding the management of post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism. The study, “Calcium, vitamin D or recombinant parathyroid hormone for managing post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism,” was published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Hypoparathyroidism is a common complication after…

Although treatment with dexamethasone before thyroid surgery does not significantly prevent hypoparathyroidism and excess calcium following the procedure, the frequency of hypoparathyroidism after surgery tended to be lower with dexamethasone treatment, a clinical study has found. Results of the study, “Preventive Effect of Dexamethasone Therapy on the…

Researchers have mapped in detail the molecular structure and dynamics of the cell receptor that “reads” the signals sent by the parathyroid hormone (PTH), which is defective in people  with hypoparathyroidism. The new insights may help develop more effective treatments with fewer side effects to modulate the activity of this…

RaDaR, the catchy new name for the U.S. government-run Rare Diseases Registry Program, aims to help patient advocacy groups with limited resources build their own disease registries. The site was developed by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), a division of the National Institutes of…

Ascendis Pharma is planning the design of its upcoming Phase 2 clinical trial intended to assess the efficacy and safety of its proprietary, investigational TransCon PTH therapy in adults with hypoparathyroidism. The latest data from the TransCon PTH clinical program was…

With 250 rare diseases newly identified every year, scientists can barely keep up — even as the healthcare system fails millions of Americans whose rare diseases have already been diagnosed. That’s the warning from Christopher P. Austin, MD, director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Studies (NCATS) at…

Long-term use of recombinant human parathyroid hormone, or rhPTH(1-84), improves mineral balance and normalizes the levels of calcium in the urine of people with chronic hypoparathyroidism, a Phase 3 trial shows. The latest trial findings were discussed at the 28th Annual Scientific & Clinical Conference of the…

Cumbersome security procedures, rising airfares, and shrinking legroom have made commercial air travel difficult enough these days — even for healthy passengers. Imagine how much harder it is for patients with rare diseases who must get to doctors’ appointments or clinical trials that are hundreds of miles away from home.

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…