Long-term results of total parathyroidectomy without autotransplantation in patients with and without renal failure.

The optimal surgical procedure for severe renal secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) is still a point of controversy. Total parathyroidectomy (PTX) without auto-transplantation was abandoned for fear of an adynamic bone condition; however, in the case of autotransplantation recurrent sHPT is frequent and promotes atherosclerosis. We studied 11 hemodialysis patients (age 59+/-12 years) on dialysis for 18 (12-30) years in whom total PTX was performed due to severe sHPT (group I; intact PTH: 1,240+/-230 pg/ml), and 5 patients (age 55+/-10 years) without renal insufficiency who inadvertently received total PTX during thyroid surgery (group II). After total PTX (group I, 26+/-18 [9-59] months; group II, 252+/-188 [22 480] months) both groups showed no measurable intact PTH levels. Calcium homeostasis was maintained by oral substitution with calcium (group I, calcium dialysate of 2.0 mmol/l), vitamin D and calcitriol (serum parameters in groups I and II: calcium 2.4 and 2.2 mmol/l; phosphate 1.8 and 1.1 mmol/l; 25(OH)-vitamin D(3) 21 and 34 ng/ml; 1,25(OH)(2)-vitamin D(3) 32 and 41 pg/ml, respectively). In group I, after total PTX there was a rapid and sustained improvement in bone pain with markedly enhanced physical activity and endurance. High turnover osteopathy markedly improved as indicated by declining levels of native osteocalcin (90+/-17 vs. 26+/-18 ng/ml), bone alkaline phosphatase (74+/-12 vs. 12+/-6 ng/ml), and carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide of type-I collagen (65+/-16 vs. 40+/-21 ng/ml) but increasing levels of carboxyterminal propeptide of type-I procollagen (120+/-36 vs. 148+/-41 ng/ml). Recalcification of bone was excellent as demonstrated by X-ray and confirmed by bone histology. Itching extravascular calcific deposits and calcifications of blood vessel and cardiac valves immediately stopped after total PTX. Moreover, 6 sHPT patients suffered from severe atherosclerotic lesions such as thoracic aortic aneurysm (n = 3) or abdominal aortic aneurysm (n = 3) which showed size progression before but not after total PTX when annually controlled by ultrasonography. In group II, even long after total PTX, there was no clinical, radiological, histological or biochemical evidence for low turnover osteopathy. In conclusion, our data indicate that substitution with vitamin D(3) metabolites and calcium can prevent deleterious bone effects of hypoparathyroidism in hemodialysis patients and in patients with normal kidney function and may compensate for the missing PTH action. Over this, a better survival rate is expected as a consequence of the beneficial effect of total PTX on the progression of atherosclerotic lesions. We suggest reconsideration of total PTX without autotransplantation in dialysis patients with severe sHPT who are not eligible for renal transplantation.

Therapeutic effect of keto acids on renal osteodystrophy. A prospective controlled study.

The therapeutical effect of keto acids on bone histology was investigated in a prospective randomized controlled study of 40 patients. A marked improvement in osteofibrotic as well as in osteomalacic changes was found in bone biopsies after 12 months of treatment with keto acids.

[The value of conservative treatment measures in treatment of chronic renal failure]. / Stellenwert der konservativen Behandlungsmassnahmen bei der Therapie der chronischen Niereninsuffizienz.

In a review article the value of conservative therapeutic measures in the therapeutic strategy of chronic renal insufficiency is illustrated. In a number of experimental and clinical studies it was shown that by a conservative therapy (diet, treatment of original disease, antihypertensive therapy etc.) the progression of chronic renal insufficiency is delayed. Assumption of therapeutic success is the elimination of catabolism in the strong protein restriction during predialysis period. Main causes of catabolic metabolism are false indication, insufficient energy intake, shortage of essential amino acids and lack of patient compliance.

[Method and initial results of percutaneous ultrasound-controlled sclerotherapy of parathyroid adenoma in secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism]. / Methodik und erste Ergebnisse der perkutanen ultraschallgezielten Verödung von Nebenschilddrüsenadenomen bei sekundärem oder tertiärem Hyperparathyreoidismus.

In 16 of 96 patients with clinical, roentgenological and biochemical signs of hyperparathyroidism due to chronic renal failure the parathyroid adenomas were detected ultrasonographically. Verification of the adenoma was done using fine-needle biopsy and cytological evaluation. In 8 patients an ultrasonographic-guided sclerotherapy using absolute ethanole was performed. The efficacy of this method was evaluated by control of the biochemical parameters. In all cases a reduction of the serum calcium level and of the parathormone was observed. This method may represent an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of renal hyperparathyroidism.

What can be safely said about predialysis treatment?

The modern principles of protein restriction and concomitant treatment in the predialysis period were explained. Our own data of a prospective study show the superiority of a keto acid-substituted diet with regard to the progression of chronic renal failure. The advantage of a keto acid administration was underlined.

Role of keto acids in the prophylaxis and treatment of renal osteopathy.

KA administration given in addition to a low-protein diet leads to a reduction of PTH secretion followed by diminishing of osteofibrosis. Osteomalacia will also be reduced by a better control of the calcium-phosphate metabolism, an increase of 1,25-(OH)2-D levels, and a lower burden of aluminum. Therapeutic levels of 25-OH-D and calcitonin (caused by simultaneous administration of vitamin D) are probably necessary to achieve this effect. KA are not only the optimum form of substitution in the nutritional treatment of chronic renal failure, but they seem to be very effective in the treatment of renal osteodystrophy.

Plasma amino and keto acids in chronic renal failure.

During both early and late stages of chronic renal insufficiency the response of BCKA to the disease state, as indicated by plasma levels, differs from that of BCAA. Val is the only BCAA whose concentration changes under the conditions of our study, and this only during the more advanced stages of disease. In contrast, all three BCKA declined, KIVA and KICA even in mild renal failure, showing that already during the early stages of the disease these BCKA levels are decreased. BCKA are more sensitive parameters than the corresponding amino acids with regard to the metabolic dysfunctions characteristic of this disease. Modern analytical methods allow more exact and reliable knowledge of these indicators and thus a better understanding of biochemical mechanisms, possibly resulting in better therapy.

Influence of keto acid (KA) treatment on renal osteodystrophy.

A marked improvement of renal osteodystrophy was achieved after a combined treatment with keto acids and vitamin D in patients with chronic renal failure. Results were checked by histological investigations. The biochemical background of the successful treatment was analysed. A regression of hyperparathyroidism and improvement in vitamin D status are the cause of this phenomenon.

Conservative long-term treatment of chronic renal failure with keto acid and amino acid supplementation.

In a group of 119 patients with advanced chronic renal failure (serum creatinine level 733 +/- 186 mumol/l) the effect of a low-protein diet supplemented with essential amino acids (EAA) or their keto analogues (KA) on uremic metabolism and rehabilitation status was investigated. The protein intake amounted to 0.4 g/kg B.W./day, the phosphorus intake 0.4-0.6 g/day and the energy supply 120-150 kJ/kg B. W./day. In 51 patients there was a substitution with EAA and in 68 patients with their KA. The mean duration of dietary treatment in this study was 19 months (6-64 months). During this time, the serum creatinine increased from 733 +/- 186 to 1,220 +/- 256 mumol/l, whereas the urea nitrogen values remained relatively constant at between 26 and 30 mmol/l. There were no signs of protein malnutrition (nitrogen balance, serum transferrin and serum protein were normal). The hemoglobin concentration remained at greater than 5 mmol/l with creatinine levels of 1,220 +/- 256 mumol/l. During the substitution with KA, there was a significantly greater decrease in serum phosphate (p less than 0.05) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) (p less than 0.01) as compared with the uremics given EAA. In addition, we found a significant increase in testosterone (p less than 0.01) in patients supplemented with KA. Despite advanced chronic renal failure there was a good degree of rehabilitation (full-time work: 21%; part-time work: 66.4%). It can be concluded that a low-protein diet supplemented with EAA or KA can improve the uremic metabolism, rehabilitation status and safely postpone the start of maintenance dialysis.

Suppression of parathyroid hormone by therapy with a mixture of keto analogues/amino acids in hemodialysis patients.

In the present study the influence of a mixture of keto analogues/amino acids (KA) on PTH levels in 18 RDT patients was examined. Ten of them were treated with KA over a period of 3 months, while the other 8 patients served as control group. The KA-treated patients showed a significant fall in PTH and plasma phosphate levels, while no changes of plasma 25-OH-D or plasma calcitonin were observed. Consequently, KA administration may also be beneficial with respect to control of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Successful pregnancy of a woman with advanced renal failure on nutritional treatment.

A case is reported of a successful pregnancy of a woman with advanced renal failure treated nutritionally. The importance of an intensive interdisciplinary medical co-working is stressed, and the individual adaptation of the dietary treatment to the special nutritional requirements in pregnancy is discussed.