26 research outputs found
Surgery did not improve the subjective neuropsychological symptoms of patients with incidentally detected mild primary hyperparathyroidism
Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is known to cause diverse subjective symptoms, in addition to those related to osteitis fibrosa cystica and kidney stones. The treatment of the disease ameliorates the subjective symptoms and improves the patientsâ quality of life. In this prospective study, patients undergoing surgery for incidentally detected, mild, asymptomatic PHPT were assessed to determine whether subjective neuropsychological symptoms are improved even in patients with âasymptomaticâ PHPT. From October 1995 to March 2004, 25 patients who had one or more neuropsychological symptoms preoperatively and were followed up 1Â year after parathyroidectomy were enrolled. The subjective symptoms were identified using questionnaires distributed to patients; eight questions were used to determine the presence or absence of psychoneurological symptoms. Compared to their preoperative status, patients responded that their general health perceptions 1Â year after surgery were improved (13 cases, 52%), unchanged (11 cases, 44%), or aggravated (1 case, 4%). There were no statistically significant differences in the patientsâ responses before and after surgery with respect to individual neuropsychological symptoms, such as âtiring easily, âforgetfulness,â âdecreased concentration,â âdepression,â âirritability,â âuneasiness,â and âsleeplessness.â Therefore, subjective neuropsychological symptoms did not improve in otherwise asymptomatic PHPT patients following parathyroidectomy. However, patientsâ questionnaire responses may not reflect their actual status as accurately as laboratory examination results. Overall, 52% of patients were subjectively satisfied with surgery; this may result from patientsâ expectations of treatment