Measurement of intact parathyroid hormone in the diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism

Plasma levels of parathyroid hormone were determined pre-operatively in 27 consecutive patients with clinical and biochemical signs of primary hyperparathyroidism, by the use of one assay recognizing the intact PTH molecule and one assay recognizing the mid-portion of PTH. Plasma levels of mid-molecule PTH were normal in 5 of the patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. In 4 of these patients, plasma levels of intact PTH were raised. Conversely, in 6 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, intact PTH were normal pre-operatively. In 5 of these cases, plasma levels of mid-molecule PTH were raised. The EDTA infusion test was performed in 6 patients with normal baseline plasma level of intact PTH pre-operatively. The test correctly predicted all the patients in this group who were found to have primary hyperparathyroidism, as well as a patient with normal parathyroid glands found at operation. We conclude that some patients with primary hyperparathyroidism have normal baseline plasma levels of intact PTH. In these patients, plasma levels of mid-molecule PTH and an EDTA infusion test provide further diagnostic information.