Successful cinacalcet treatment of refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism due to multiple lung parathyroid adenomas

Abstract

We describe a 56-year-old woman who presented with end-stage renal disease due to pregnancy-induced hypertension and secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT). She had started hemodialysis and underwent a subtotal parathyroidectomy (PTx). However, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels increased gradually. Eventually, she underwent a second PTx. However, therapy failed to significantly decrease iPTH levels. A third PTx was performed, but no pathological parathyroid tissue was found. Computed tomography scan indicated the presence of multiple ectopic lung nodules and 26 nodules were surgically removed from the left lung. Despite surgical treatment, iPTH levels remained high. Additional maxacalcitol failed to decrease iPTH levels, cinacalcet was then started. iPTH levels decreased and the cinacalcet dose could be reduced to maintenance doses of 60 mg/day. Throughout the 1.6 years of treatment, serum iPTH, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) were normalized. As a consequence, bone pain gradually disappeared. Bone mineral density (BMD) was improved by administration of cinacalcet. In conclusion, cinacalcet was effective in this patient with refractory and inoperable sHPT. In addition, it improves their BMD and relieves bone pain. © The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press.