Early-onset, progressive, frequent, extensive, and severe bone mineral and renal complications in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1–associated primary hyperparathyroidism

Abstract

Differences in bone mineral density (BMD) patterns have been recently reported between multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1-related primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT/MEN1) and sporadic primary HPT. However, studies on the early and later outcomes of bone/renal complications in HPT/MEN1 are lacking. In this cross-sectional study, performed in a tertiary academic hospital, 36 patients cases with uncontrolled HPT from 8 unrelated MEN1 families underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning of the proximal one-third of the distal radius (1/3DR), femoral neck, total hip, and lumbar spine (LS). The mean age of the patients was 38.9 ± 14.5 years. Parathyroid hormone (PTH)/calcium values were mildly elevated despite an overall high percentage of bone demineralization (77.8%). In the younger group (<50 years of age), demineralization in the 1/3DR was more frequent, more severe, and occurred earlier (40%; Z-score -1.81 ± 0.26). The older group (>50 years of age) had a higher frequency of bone demineralization at all sites (p < .005) and a larger number of affected bone sites (p < .0001), and BMD was more severely compromised in the 1/3DR (p = .007) and LS (p = .002). BMD values were lower in symptomatic (88.9%) than in asymptomatic HPT patients (p < .006). Patients with long-standing HPT (>10 years) and gastrinoma/HPT presented significantly lower 1/3DR BMD values. Urolithiasis occurred earlier (<30 years) and more frequently (75%) and was associated with related renal comorbidities (50%) and renal insufficiency in the older group (33%). Bone mineral- and urolithiasis-related renal complications in HPT/MEN1 are early-onset, frequent, extensive, severe, and progressive. These data should be considered in the individualized clinical/surgical management of patients with MEN1-associated HPT.