Published online Jul 5, 2022. doi: 10.4292/wjgpt.v13.i4.47
Peer-review started: January 3, 2022
First decision: March 10, 2022
Revised: March 24, 2022
Accepted: May 16, 2022
Article in press: May 16, 2022
Published online: July 5, 2022
Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is an endocrine disease characterized by excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) from one or more parathyroid glands. PHPT has been linked with the development of both acute and chronic pancreatitis.
Early diagnosis and surgery for PHPT will prevent the recurrence of acute pancreatitis (AP).
To determine the prevalence of AP in PHPT patients and to distinguish PHPT with acute pancreatitis (PHPT-AP) from PHPT without pancreatitis (PHPT-NP) patients based on their clinical and biochemical and radiological profiles.
This is a retrospective observational study done on 51 consecutive patients admitted with the diagnosis of PHPT between January 2010 to October 2021 at a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry, India.
In our study, the prevalence of AP in PHPT was found to be 9.80%. PHPT with AP was more common among males with the presentation at a younger age with lower plasma intact parathyroid hormone levels compared to PHPT-NP.
The current study demonstrates a causal relationship between the PHPT and AP. Evaluation for PHPT should be considered in any patient with pancreatitis with high normal or elevated serum calcium levels, especially in the absence of other common causes of pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis should be an anticipated complication of PHPT and may be the sole presenting complaint of PHPT. Early diagnosis and surgery for PHPT in AP will prevent recurrent attacks of AP and other PHPT-related complications.