Primary hyperparathyroidism. An alternative to the surgery

Primary hyperparathyroidism is caused by an adenoma/hyperplasia in the parathyroid glands in which hypercalcemia is mainly due to an increased secretion of parathormone (PTH). The only definitive treatment is surgery. There are some patients at high surgical risk or who refuse surgery, and whose hypercalcemia cannot be controlled with conventional medical therapy such as hydration, diuretics and/or oral biphosphonates. We suggest the use of two drugs indicated for the treatment of hypercalcemia of other etiologies: zoledronic acid, a parenteral bisphosphonate, and cinacalcet, a calcimimetic agent that reduces PTH secretion. We present the case of a woman with hypercalcemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism caused by an adenoma, who was treated with both drugs.