Principal Investigator: Julia P. Sumner

Co-PI: Joseph J. Wakshlag

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 

Serum calcium concentrations in dogs are tightly regulated through the actions of parathyroid hormone (PTH) that is released by the parathyroid glands. Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a disease where overactive parathyroid glands release excessive and unregulated amounts of PTH, which in-turn leads to elevated serum calcium concentrations. Excessive extracellular calcium has serious detrimental effects on the neuromuscular, gastrointestinal, renal and cardiac systems.

PHPT can be treated successfully by surgical removal or ablation of the affected glands. These procedures are relatively simple, associated with low morbidity and require only minimal aftercare. However, nearly half of all patients undergoing a parathyroidectomy for PHPT will develop severe post-procedural hypocalcemia. This is secondary to physiologic suppression of PTH release from the remaining parathyroid glands. Although suppression of these glands is typically transient, hypocalcemia is a serious complication that can result in excitation of the nervous system (i.e. tetany and seizures) and life threatening cardiac abnormalities. Post-procedural hypocalcemia is the most common, frustrating and dangerous complication following treatment of PHPT in humans and dogs.

Currently there are no markers or indicators to determine which dogs undergoing treatment for PHPT will develop hypocalcemia. Therefore, current standard of care is to hospitalize ALL dogs for up to a week post-procedurally to monitor serum calcium concentrations. This leads to increased hospitalization costs and stress, when at least 50% of dogs treated for PHPT will not become hypocalcemic. This study aims to investigate associations that may one day provide veterinarians with an ability to predict the likelihood of the development of this complication and consequently intervene pre or post-procedurally to reduce its incidence.