Surgery vs. Medication for Kidney-Related Parathyroid Disease
By: Dr. Eyas Alkhalili, Luis Alvarado, Nishtha Sharma, Roxann Lerma, Alok Dwivedi, Adeel Ahmad, Aimee Hechanova, Fernanda Payan-Schober, Azikiwe Nwosu
Patients on dialysis often develop secondary hyperparathyroidism, where the parathyroid glands become overactive because of chronic kidney failure. This condition can cause severe bone pain, weakness, and dangerous calcium and phosphorus levels. Treatments include cinacalcet, a medication that lowers parathyroid hormone, or parathyroidectomy, surgical removal of the overactive glands.
Dr. Alkhalili and collaborators compared outcomes between patients treated with surgery versus medication. Their findings showed that parathyroidectomy often provided more durable control of the disease compared to drug therapy alone, especially for those with severe or resistant cases.
For patients, this study underscores that while medications play an important role, surgery can be a powerful and lasting treatment — even for people with complex health issues like kidney failure. The key is tailoring the approach to each patient’s situation, balancing risks, and choosing the treatment most likely to improve long-term quality of life.
