Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical effect of parathyroidectomy (PTX) on maintenance dialysis patients with refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). Methods Fifteen refractory SHPT patients undergoing PTX treated in our hospital from 2007 to 2013 were retrospectively analyzed to compare serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphate (ALP) before and after the operation, and to assess the changes of hyperparathyroidism symptoms after PTX. Results No patient died in the perioperative period, but one patient had transient injury of recurrent laryngeal nerve. Serum iPTH was 2,269 pg/ml before PTX, and was 93.9, 195, 83.2, and 61 pg/ml after PTX for 7 days, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, respectively (P<0.001, 0.001, 0.008 and 0.018, respectively, compared the value before PTX). Serum iPTH, phosphorus, calcium and ALP decreased significantly after PTX (P＜0.05, compared the values before PTX). Clinical symptoms and signs including bone pain, fractures, joint deformity, skin itching, muscle weakness and heart palpitations also improved remarkably after PTX. Conclusions Parathyroidectomy is a safe and reliable measure with confirmed effects for the treatment of uremia patients with SHPT. However, the long-term effects remain to be followed up.

Key words: Parathyroidectomy, Maintenance dialysis, Hyperparathyroidism, secondary