HRT and hyperparathyroidism

NEW YORK, July 26 (Praxis Press) Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a possible alternative to parathyroidectomy in the treatment of hyperparathyroidism, but the efficacy of HRT in the long-term treatment of chronic stable primary hyperparathyroidism is unclear. To assess this, Orr-Walker and colleagues performed a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 23 postmenopausal women with primary hyperparathyroidism over the course of 2 to 4 years. Of the 23 women, 11 received HRT and 12 received placebo. They measured bone mineral density at si6-month intervals using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in these women and in 50 normocalcemic age-matched control subjects. Changes in bone mineral density were more positive in those taking HRT than placebo, with the between-group differences at 4 years being 4.6% in the total body, 7.5% in the lumbar spine, 7.4% in the femoral neck, 8.2% in the femoral trochanter, 6.8% in the legs, and 7.0% in the forearm. HRT...