[Results of systematic subtotal parathyroidectomy with thymectomy for tertiary hyperparathyroidism after renal transplantation - 70 patients]. / Résultats de la parathyroïdectomie subtotale de principe associée à une thymectomie systématique pour le traitement de l'hyperparathyroïdisme tertiaire après transplantation rénale chez 70 patients.

BACKGROUND: Due to the relatively small number of patients involved, there is currently no consensus on what operation should be performed in patients with tertiary hyperparathyroidism after renal transplantation. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of the 70 patients with tertiary hyperparathyroidism who all underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy with transcervical thymectomy in the same institution between 1978 and 2003. RESULTS: The delay between transplantation and parathyroidectomy was 4,1+/-4,3 years. Follow up was available for all patients. Mean follow-up was 5,6+/-5 years. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 53+/-21 ml/min at parathyroidectomy and 42+/-29 ml/min at follow-up [<30 ml/min in 26 patients (37%), 30 - 60 ml/min in 25 patients (36%) et>60 ml/min in 19 patients (27%)]. One patient was successfully reoperated for persistent tertiary hyperparathyroidism during follow-up. No patient was hypercalcemic at follow-up. Four patients with a GFR<30 ml/min had a PTH level>fourfold normal values (6%) without signs or symptoms of hyperparathyroidism. One patient was hypocalcemic (1,5%) and two patients were normocalcemic with undetectable or infranormal PTH level (3%) under oral vitamin D and calcium medication. CONCLUSION: This approach permits not only to cure the majority of patients with tertiary hyperparathyroidism but also to avoid recurrence when the renal function declines. When medical management has failed, we recommend systematic subtotal parathyroidectomy with thymectomy for patients with tertiary hyperparathyroidism and this should usually be performed during the second year after transplantation.

Intraoperative decay profile of intact (1-84) parathyroid hormone in surgery for renal hyperparathyroidism--a consecutive series of 80 patients.

BACKGROUND: The utility of intraoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) monitoring is unclear in the surgical management of renal hyperparathyroidism. Our goal was to define the normal pattern of decay during operation for renal hyperparathyroidism by using the rapid intact (1-84) parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay. METHODS: Eighty consecutive patients underwent neck exploration for renal hyperparathyroidism. Intact PTH levels were monitored with a rapid immunochemiluminometric assay. Samples were assayed at the induction of anesthesia, after dissection before resection, and 20 and 40 minutes after resection. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 24 months. RESULTS: Twenty minutes after resection, PTH levels remained many-fold supranormal. Seventy-seven patients (96%) were cured. Of these, 75 patients (94%) had PTH decay of more than 50% from the preoperative level; 74 (99%) were cured. Only 1 of 3 patients (33%) in whom the PTH level decreased less than 40% from the preoperative level was cured. Two patients had intermediate values and both were cured. CONCLUSIONS: The intraoperative decay of PTH during operation for renal hyperparathyroidism is slower than for patients with normal renal function. However, 20 minutes after resection, a decline to less than 50% of the preoperative level predicts cure, while a level greater than 60% predicts failure.

Supernumerary parathyroid glands: frequency and surgical significance in treatment of renal hyperparathyroidism.

Supernumerary parathyroid glands (SPGs) are found in 13% of random autopsies. The high incidence of SPGs could explain the persistence or trigger recurrence of renal hyperparathyroidism after surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and clinical relevance of SPG in patients operated on for renal hyperparathyroidism (HPT). In this retrospective study we reviewed the medical records of 290 patients with renal HPT who were initially treated in our department. We examined the anatomic and pathologic findings during cervical surgical exploration and the outcome of HPT during follow-up. SPGs were identified in 87 patients (30%) during the initial cervicotomy, corresponding to intrathymic parathyroid cell islets (one to four) in 70 cases and to extrathymic SPG in 17 patients. Among 260 patients available for follow-up, 11 experienced persistent HPT (4%), and 34 developed recurrent HPT (13%). A total of 25 patients were reoperated on, and SPGs were responsible for 4 of 8 cases of persistent HPT and 4 of 17 cases of recurrent HPT, representing an overall frequency of 32%. The anatomic distribution of SPGs found during reoperations included thymus, retroesophageal grove, carotid sheath, and mediastinum. SPGs are thus present in 30% of patients with renal HPT and are situated mainly in the thymus. Thymectomy should be performed routinely during the first surgical exploration to prevent recurrences arising from anterior mediastinal glands. SPGs were also responsible for 32% of persistent or recurrent HPT. In that setting, frankly ectopic SPGs are not rare, and preoperative imaging appears highly desirable prior to embarking on surgical reexploration.

[Muscle infarction. An unknown complication of diabetes mellitus]. / L'infarctus musculaire. Une complication méconnue du diabète.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic muscle infarction (MI) is a rare and little-known complication of diabetes mellitus. CASE REPORT: We report a case of relapsing MI in which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested the diagnosis. A 53-year-old man with multi-complicated type II diabetes mellitus was admitted to our unit for illness and deep tumefaction of the right thigh. Because of unconclusive MRI, a muscular biopsy of the lesion was performed and MI confirmed. Three months after, a left relapse of MI occurred. Immediate treatment with immobilization and heparinotherapy permitted a rapid recovery. CONCLUSION: About 70 previously reported cases are reviewed. The mean age at presentation was about 40 years. MI was usually seen in patients with long-standing diabetes with multiple end organ microvascular complications. Homo- or heterolateral recurrences are reported in almost half of the patients. MRI is the best imaging technique for suggesting the diagnosis.

[Limits of parathyroid scintigraphy before surgery for hyperparathyroidism of renal origin]. / Limites de la scintigraphie parathyroïdienne avant chirurgie pour hyperparathyroïdisme d'origine rénale (51 cas).

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the results of parathyroid scinti scans (sestamibi or tetrofosmin) for detection of hyperplastic parathyroid glands responsible for renal hyperparathyroidism. METHODS: Injection of 15 mCi sestamibi or tetrofosmin and gammacamera acquisition of images focused on neck and mediastinum, 20 minutes and 2 hours thereafter. Injection of 150 mCi Iodine 123, acquisition of images 2 hours afterwards and visual subtraction. PATIENTS: 51 patients with renal insufficency or renal transplant were referred for surgical treatment of hyperparathyroidism. 52 scintiscans (sestamibi n = 19, tetrofosmin n = 33) were performed before operation (subtotal parathyroidectomy, bilateral thymectomy and parathyroid tissue cryopreservation). RESULTS: 180 hyperplastic parathyroid glands were resected, 71 of which had been detected by scintiscan. The factors modifying the results were the weight of the resected lesion and reoperation. All hyperplastic glands were detected in only 1 out of 41 scintiscans performed before first hand operations, whereas all missed glands were imaged in 8 out of the 10 explorations performed before reoperation for persistent renal hyperparathyroidism. The radionuclide, the type of hyperparathyroidism, the parathyroid location, patient's age and gender did not influence the results. No false-positive result was observed. CONCLUSION: Parathyroid scintiscan should not be routinely performed before the first neck exploration for renal hyperparathyroidism. It is mandatory in those cases needing reoperation for recurrent disease.

Distinct HLA class II alleles determine antibody response to vaccination with hepatitis B surface antigen.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinants control antibody production in response to protein antigens. Vaccination with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) frequently fails in hemodialyzed patients, but the genetic factors that modulate humoral responsiveness are poorly characterized. We studied the distribution of HLA class II alleles in 415 hemodialyzed Caucasian patients who received a full course of HBsAg vaccination, using class II oligotyping after genomic amplification of the DRB1 and DQB1 loci. Phenotype frequencies were compared in 114 non responders (anti-HBs antibodies < or = 10 SI units/liter), 301 responders (anti-HBs antibodies > 10 units/liter) and 471 healthy controls. DRB1*01 (DR1) and DRB1*15 (DR15) frequencies were lower in nonresponders than in responders and controls (DR1, 12.3% vs. 22.9% and 24.8%, respectively; DR15, 14% vs. 22.9% and 25.1%), while DRB1*03 (DR3) and DRB1*14 (DR14) frequencies were higher (DR3, 32.5% vs. 16.6% and 25.3%, respectively; DR14, 9.6% vs. 3% and 6.6%). Overall, 44.5% of DR3 or DR14 patients were nonresponders, compared to 18.1% of DR1 or DR15 patients (P = 0.0001). In conclusion the humoral response to HBsAg vaccine is influenced by class II allelic variants, which differ in their capacity to bind and present peptides to T lymphocytes.

[Specific renal lesions revealing the presence of sarcoidosis (author's transl)]. / L'atteinte rénale spécifique révélatrice de la sarcoïdose.

Three cases of granulomatous nephropathy are reported. In two patients this was definitely related to a true renal sarcoidosis, while the third case raised the problem of the significance of an "isolated sarcoidosis nodule". The authors discuss the frequency, clinical symptoms, and pathological appearances of these renal lesions which reveal the presence of sarcoidosis, as well as the relationship between renal insufficiency and the parenchymatous lesions observed, and therapy.