Value of Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone Assay during Parathyroidectomy in Dialysis and Renal Transplant Patients with Secondary and Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism
&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Background:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; In dialysis and renal transplant patients with secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism (HPT), the value of intraoperative parathyroid hormone (ioPTH) during parathyroidectomy (PTX) and its association with long-term PTH levels are unknown. The present study aims at evaluating the relationship of ioPTH with long-term PTH levels post-PTX in dialysis and renal transplant patients in a single-center study. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; The ioPTH was measured in 57 dialysis patients (33 females and 24 males) and 18 renal transplant recipients (12 males and 6 females) who underwent PTX from 2005 to 2015 for refractory HPT. Near-total PTX was performed in 56 patients and total PTX with autotransplantation in 20 patients. The PTH monitoring included 3 samples: pre-intubation, 10- and 20-min (pre-ioPTH, 10-ioPTH, and 20-ioPTH) post parathyroid gland excision. Patients were followed up for up to 5 years. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; In the dialysis group, the median (25th–75th percentile) pre-, 10-, and 20-ioPTH levels were 1,447 pg/mL (938–2,176), 143 pg/mL (78–244) and 112 pg/mL (59–153) respectively. In the renal transplant group, pre-, 10-, and 20-ioPTH levels were 273 pg/mL (180–403), 42 pg/mL (25–72), and 34 pg/mL (23–45) respectively. All patients in the transplant group had a functional kidney transplant at the time of PTX with a median serum creatinine of 1.3 mg/dL (1.2–1.7) and estimated glomerular filtration rate of 55 mL/min (40–60). The median time between renal transplant and PTX surgeries was 22 months (7–81). The last median follow-up PTH level was 66 pg/mL (15–201) in the dialysis group and 54 pg/mL (17–72) in the transplant group (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.438). The mean time for last PTH post-PTX was 2.3 ± 2.0 years. In both groups, there was no significant difference between 20-ioPTH and any-time post-PTX PTH levels (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.6 and &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.9). Nineteen patients (25%) were readmitted within 90 days because of hypocalcemia. One patient in the dialysis group was readmitted for post-PTX hematoma evacuation. No patient required repeat PTX because of recurrent HPT that was refractory to medical therapy. Only one dialysis patient required repeat PTX because the first procedure failed. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; The 20-ioPTH is a good indicator of long-term PTH levels in dialysis and renal transplant patients. Hypocalcemia is a common complication, particularly in dialysis patients, and it is the main reason for readmission after PTX. Hypoparathyroidism is a potential concern after PTX in dialysis patients.