Rapid restoration of bone mass after surgical management of hyperthyroidism: A prospective case control study in Southern India

• Published in: Surgery Vol. 159; no. 3; pp. 771 - 776
• Main Authors: Karunakaran, Poongkodi, MBBS, MS, MCh, Maharajan, Chandrasekaran, MBBS, MS, Mohamed, Kamaludeen N., MBBS, MS, Rachamadugu, Suresh V., MBBS, MS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2016
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon - methods; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Bone and Bones - diagnostic imaging; Bone and Bones - physiology; Bone Density - physiology; Calcium - blood; Case-Control Studies; Chi-Square Distribution; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hyperthyroidism - diagnosis; Hyperthyroidism - surgery; India; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Care - methods; Prospective Studies; Surgery; Thyroid Function Tests; Thyroidectomy - methods; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0039-6060; 1532-7361
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2015.10.002

Context The rate and the extent of bone remineralization at cancellous versus cortical sites after treatment of hyperthyroidism is unclear. Few studies have examined the effect of operative management of hyperthyroidism on recovery of bone mass. Objective To evaluate prospectively the bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone areal size at the spine, hip, and forearm before and after total thyroidectomy. Design and setting A prospective case control observational study from August 2011 to July 2014 in a single center. Participants This study evaluated 40 overt hyperthyroid patients and 31 age-matched euthyroid controls who were operative candidates. Main outcome measures Bone indices were measured at baseline and 6-month postoperatively using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25OHD) were assessed. Results Baseline BMD of hyperthyroid subjects at the spine, hip, and forearm were less than euthyroid controls ( P = .001) with concomitant increases in serum alkaline phosphatase (mean ± SD, 143 ± 72 vs 72 ± 23 IU/L control; P  < .001). The 25OHD level was 24.3 ± 10.6 and 26.1 ± 14.6 ng/mL in patients and controls, respectively. Among hyperthyroid patients, posttreatment BMD expressed as g/cm2 were 0.97 ± 0.12 (vs pretreatment 0.91 ± 0.14; P = .001) at the spine, 0.87 ± 0.12 (vs pretreatment 0.80 ± 0.13; P = .001) at the hip, and 0.67 ± 0.09 (vs pretreatment 0.64 ± 0.11; P = .191) at the forearm. The percent change in BMD was greatest at spine (8.3%) followed by the hip (7.6%) and forearm (3.0%). Conclusion Operative management with total thyroidectomy improved the bone loss associated with hyperthyroidism as early as 6 months postoperatively at the hip and spine despite concomitant vitamin D deficiency. Delayed recovery of bone indices at the forearm, a cortical bone, requires further long-term evaluation.