title: Primary hyperparathyroidism and pancreatitis.
abstract: Frequently a causal relationship between hyperparathyroidism (HPT) and pancreatitis has been defended. Bess et al. queried the existence of any causality. A series of 686 patients with surgically confirmed primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) was analysed with a coincidence of pancreatitis of 1.5% (n = 10). Three patients had an attack immediately after exploration of the neck, which is more than one would expect after a non-related operation. Although these data are not conclusive, a causal relationship cannot be excluded. It is uncertain whether a parathyrotoxic crisis due to surgical manipulation plays a part. In 27 patients a partial or total thyroidectomy was performed at the time of the parathyroidectomy. None of these patients had a postoperative pancreatitis, which means that in this series the recently postulated protective role of calcitonin cannot be confirmed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D013965:Thyroidectomy