Play all audios:
A recent double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized phase III trial has demonstrated that replacing parathyroid hormone (PTH) with the recombinant form PTH(1–84) is safe and effective.
Patients with hypoparathyroidism are currently treated with high doses of calcium and calcitriol (active vitamin D), which can cause serious adverse effects. “Hypoparathyroidism is one of
the last classic endocrine disorders for which replacing the missing hormone is not an FDA-approved therapy,” explains lead author Michael Mannstadt (Harvard Medical School, USA). In this
trial, 90 patients received PTH(1–84) and 44 received placebo for 24 weeks. The doses of calcium and calcitriol where progressively reduced, while PTH(1–84) was raised from 50 μg to 75 μg
and then to 100 μg up to week 5. The primary end point of reducing doses of calcium and calcitriol by at least 50% while maintaining serum levels of calcium within the target range was
achieved in 53% of patients receiving PTH(1–84), compared with 2% of those given placebo. The number and severity of adverse events were similar for the two groups. These findings
demonstrate that PTH(1–84) is effective, well-tolerated and safe in patients with hypoparathyroidism. “Replacing PTH in patients with hypoparathyroidism is an exciting development, and the
hope is that this treatment will be available as an option for patients with this disease,” says Mannstadt. However, the researchers note that further work is needed to investigate the
effects on renal and bone parameters. REFERENCES * Mannstadt, M. _ et al_. Efficacy and safety of recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1–84) in hypoparathyroidism (REPLACE): a
double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, phase 3 study. _Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol._ 10.1016/S2213-8587(13)70106-2 Download references Authors * Claire Greenhill View author
publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Greenhill, C.
Hypoparathyroidism—replacing PTH. _Nat Rev Endocrinol_ 10, 3 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2013.214 Download citation * Published: 29 October 2013 * Issue Date: January 2014 * DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2013.214 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Get shareable link Sorry, a shareable link is not
currently available for this article. Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative