Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Is parathyroid allotransplantation a viable option in the treatment of permanent hypoparathyroidism? A review of the literature

  • Review
  • Published:
Endocrine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The standard clinical treatment for hypoparathyroidism, replacement of calcium and vitamin metabolites (calcitriol), has been used for decades; however, evidence points to its inefficiency in acting on the pathophysiology of the disease, which may precipitate or aggravate conditions already related to hypoparathyroidism. Therapies based on recombinant human parathyroid hormone have emerged in recent years but still have low availability due to their high cost. Parathyroid allotransplantation (Pt-a) has been reported as a strategy for treating more severe cases.

Methods

This narrative review highlights relevant aspects of conventional permanent hypoparathyroidism treatment and provides a comprehensive and critical review of the reports of applications of Pt-a, especially those carried out in recent years. Particular focus is placed on the following key points: parathyroid immunogenicity, immunosuppression regimens (short-term or chronic), techniques to reduce the expression of immunogenic molecules, follow-up time, and reductions in calcium and vitamin D supplementation.

Conclusion

Pt-a has been considered a safe and relatively low-cost therapy and is believed to have the potential to cure the disease, in addition to treating symptoms. However, there is considerable heterogeneity in treatment protocols; therefore, more studies are required to improve the standardization of the procedure and thus improve the consistency of outcomes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M.L. Brandi, J.P. Bilezikian, D. Shoback, R. Bouillon, B.L. Clarke, R.V. Thakker et al. Management of Hypoparathyroidism: summary statement and guidelines. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 101(6), 2273–83 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2015-3907

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. B.L. Clarke, E.M. Brown, M.T. Collins, H. Jüppner, P. Lakatos, M.A. Levine et al. Epidemiology and diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 101(6), 2284–99 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2015-3908

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. M. Mannstadt, J.P. Bilezikian, R.V. Thakker, F.M. Hannan, B.L. Clarke, L. Rejnmark et al. Hypoparathyroidism. Nat. Rev. Dis. Prim. 5(3), 17080 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2017.80. Erratum for: Nat Rev Dis Primers. 31, 3:17055 (2017).

  4. B.L. Clarke, T.J. Vokes, J.P. Bilezikian, D.M. Shoback, H. Lagast, M. Mannstadt, Effects of parathyroid hormone rhPTH(1-84) on phosphate homeostasis and vitamin D metabolism in hypoparathyroidism: REPLACE phase 3 study. Endocrine 55(1), 273–282 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-016-1141-0

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. N.E. Cusano, M.R. Rubin, J.P. Bilezikian, Parathyroid hormone therapy for hypoparathyroidism. Best. Pr. Res Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 29(1), 47–55 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beem.2014.09.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. A. Palermo, A. Santonati, G. Tabacco, D. Bosco, A. Spada, C. Pedone et al. PTH(1-34) for Surgical hypoparathyroidism: a 2-year prospective, open-label investigation of efficacy and quality of life. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 103(1), 271–280 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2017-01555

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. M.R. Rubin, N.E. Cusano, W.W. Fan, Y. Delgado, C. Zhang, A.G. Costa et al. Therapy of hypoparathyroidism with PTH(1-84): a prospective six year investigation of efficacy and safety. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 101(7), 2742–50 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2015-4135

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. G. Tabacco, Y.D. Tay, N.E. Cusano, J. Williams, B. Omeragic, R. Majeed et al. Quality of life in hypoparathyroidism improves with rhPTH(1-84) throughout 8 years of therapy. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 104(7), 2748–2756 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2018-02430

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. K.K. Winer, C.W. Ko, J.C. Reynolds, K. Dowdy, M. Keil, D. Peterson et al. Long-term treatment of hypoparathyroidism: a randomized controlled study comparing parathyroid hormone-(1-34) versus calcitriol and calcium. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 88(9), 4214–20 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2002-021736

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. J.L. Vahle, M. Sato, G.G. Long, J.K. Young, F.C. Francis, J.A. Engelhardt et al. Skeletal changes in rats given daily subcutaneous injections of recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-34) for 2 years and relevance to human safety. Toxicol. Pathol. 30(3), 312–21 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1080/01926230252929882

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. J. Jolette, C.E. Wilker, S.Y. Smith, N. Doyle, J.F. Hardisty, A.J. Metcalfe et al. Defining a noncarcinogenic dose of recombinant human parathyroid hormone 1-84 in a 2-year study in Fischer 344 rats. Toxicol. Pathol. 34(7), 929–40 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1080/01926230601072301

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. R. Mihai, R.V. Thakker, Management of Endocrine Disease: Postsurgical hypoparathyroidism: current treatments and future prospects for parathyroid allotransplantation. Eur. J. Endocrinol. 184(5), R165–R175 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-20-1367

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. G. Marcucci, G. Della Pepa, M.L. Brandi, Drug safety evaluation of parathyroid hormone for hypocalcemia in patients with hypoparathyroidism. Expert Opin. Drug Saf. 16(5), 617–625 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1080/14740338.2017.1311322

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. J.M. Moffett, J. Suliburk, Parathyroid autotransplantation. Endocr. Pr. 17(Suppl 1), 83–9 (2011). https://doi.org/10.4158/EP10377.RA

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. W.L. Lau, Y. Obi, K. Kalantar-Zadeh, Parathyroidectomy in the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism. Clin. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 13(6), 952–961 (2018). https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.10390917

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. P. Dreyer, M.N. Ohe, L.M. Santos, I.S. Kunii, R.O. Santos, A.B. Carvalho et al. Parathyroid responsiveness during hypocalcemia after total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation in patients with renal hyperparathyroidism. J. Bras. Nefrol. 38(2), 183–90 (2016). https://doi.org/10.5935/0101-2800.20160027

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. M. Barczyński, F. Gołkowski, I. Nawrot, Parathyroid transplantation in thyroid surgery. Gland Surg. 6(5), 530–536 (2017). https://doi.org/10.21037/gs.2017.06.07

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. M.R. Rickels, R.P. Robertson, Pancreatic islet transplantation in humans: recent progress and future directions. Endocr. Rev. 40(2), 631–668 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2018-00154

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. P. Choudhary, M.R. Rickels, P.A. Senior, M.C. Vantyghem, P. Maffi, T.W. Kay et al. Evidence-informed clinical practice recommendations for treatment of type 1 diabetes complicated by problematic hypoglycemia. Diabetes Care 38(6), 1016–29 (2015). https://doi.org/10.2337/dc15-0090

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. R.I. Gafni, M.T. Collins, Hypoparathyroidism. N. Engl. J. Med 380(18), 1738–1747 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp1800213

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. R.I. Gafni, C.B. Langman, L.C. Guthrie, B.A. Brillante, R. James, N.A. Yovetich et al. Hypocitraturia is an untoward side effect of synthetic human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) 1-34 therapy in hypoparathyroidism that may increase renal morbidity. J. Bone Min. Res. 33(10), 1741–1747 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.3480. Epub 22 (2018). Erratum in: J Bone Miner Res. 37(4), 818 (2022)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Y.D. Tay, G. Tabacco, N.E. Cusano, J. Williams, B. Omeragic, R. Majeed et al. Therapy of hypoparathyroidism with rhPTH(1-84): a prospective, 8-year investigation of efficacy and safety. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 104(11), 5601–5610 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2019-00893

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. K.H. Chomsky-Higgins, H.M. Rochefort, C.D. Seib, J.E. Gosnell, W.T. Shen, Q.Y. Duh et al. Recombinant parathyroid hormone versus usual care: do the outcomes justify the cost? World J. Surg. 42(2), 431–436 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-017-4248-4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. A.A. Khan, L. Rejnmark, M. Rubin, P. Schwarz, T. Vokes, B. Clarke et al. PaTH forward: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial of TransCon PTH in adult hypoparathyroidism. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 107(1), e372–e385 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgab577

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Kidney Disease, Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Transplant Work Group: KDIGO clinical practice guideline for the care of kidney transplant recipients. Am. J. Transpl. 9(Suppl 3), S1–155 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-6143.2009.02834.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. A.S. Daar, S.V. Fuggle, J.W. Fabre, A. Ting, P.J. Morris, The detailed distribution of HLA-A, B, C antigens in normal human organs. Transplantation 38(3), 287–92 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1097/00007890-198409000-00018

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. A.S. Daar, S.V. Fuggle, J.W. Fabre, A. Ting, P.J. Morris, The detailed distribution of MHC Class II antigens in normal human organs. Transplantation 38(3), 293–8 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1097/00007890-198409000-00019

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. G. Bjerneroth, C. Juhlin, J. Rastad, G. Akerström, L. Klareskog, MHC class I and II antigen expression on parathyroid cells and prospects for their allogenic transplantation. Transplantation 56(3), 717–21 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1097/00007890-199309000-00040

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. I. Nawrot, B. Woźniewicz, T. Tołłoczko, A. Sawicki, A. Górski, W. Chudziński et al. Allotransplantation of cultured parathyroid progenitor cells without immunosuppression: clinical results. Transplantation 83(6), 734–40 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1097/01.tp.0000258601.17505.9d

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. M. Friedman, Factors influencing parathyroid allotransplantation in rats. Laryngoscope 96(9 Pt 2 Suppl 39), 1–16 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1288/00005537-198609001-00001

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. S. Timm, C. Otto, D. Begrich, B. Illert, W. Hamelmann, K. Ulrichs et al. Short-term immunosuppression after rat parathyroid allotransplantation. Microsurgery 23(5), 503–7 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1002/micr.10165

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. S.A. Wells Jr, J.F. Burdick, B.G. Hattler, C. Christiansen, H.M. Pettigrew, M. Abe et al. The allografted parathyroid gland: evaluation of function in the immunosuppressed host. Ann. Surg. 180(6), 805–13 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1097/00000658-197412000-00001

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. R.M. Merion, D.E. Schaubel, D.M. Dykstra, R.B. Freeman, F.K. Port, R.A. Wolfe, The survival benefit of liver transplantation. Am. J. Transpl. 5(2), 307–13 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-6143.2004.00703.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. L. Pruinelli, K.A. Monsen, C.R. Gross, D.M. Radosevich, G.J. Simon, B.L. Westra, Predictors of Liver Transplant Patient Survival. Prog. Transpl. 27(1), 98–106 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1177/1526924816680099

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. P. Cabané, P. Gac, J. Amat, P. Pineda, R. Rossi, R. Caviedes et al. Allotransplant of microencapsulated parathyroid tissue in severe postsurgical hypoparathyroidism: a case report. Transpl. Proc. 41(9), 3879–83 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.transproceed.2009.06.211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. C. Hasse, G. Klöck, A. Schlosser, U. Zimmermann, M. Rothmund, Parathyroid allotransplantation without immunosuppression. Lancet 350(9087), 1296–7 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(05)62473-7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. V. Khryshchanovich, Y. Ghoussein, Allotransplantation of macroencapsulated parathyroid cells as a treatment of severe postsurgical hypoparathyroidism: case report. Ann. Saudi Med. 36(2), 143–7 (2016). https://doi.org/10.5144/0256-4947.2016.21.3.1130

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. E. Yucesan, H. Basoglu, B. Goncu, F. Akbas, Y.E. Ersoy, E. Aysan, Microencapsulated parathyroid allotransplantation in the omental tissue. Artif. Organs 43(10), 1022–1027 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1111/aor.13475

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. A. Murua, A. Portero, G. Orive, R.M. Hernández, M. de Castro, J.L. Pedraz, Cell microencapsulation technology: towards clinical application. J. Control Rel. 132(2), 76–83 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2008.08.010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. K.E. Smith, R.C. Johnson, K.K. Papas, Update on cellular encapsulation. Xenotransplantation 25(5), e12399 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1111/xen.12399

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. P.C. Toledo, R.L. Rossi, P. Caviedes, Microencapsulation of parathyroid cells for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism. Methods Mol. Biol. 1479, 357–363 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6364-5_27

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. K. Tsuji, S. Fuchinoue, K. Kai, T. Kawase, K. Kitajima, T. Sawada et al. Culture of human parathyroid cells for transplantation. Transpl. Proc. 31(7), 2697 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1016/s0041-1345(99)00529-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. S.M. Flechner, E. Berber, M. Askar, B. Stephany, A. Agarwal, M. Milas, Allotransplantation of cryopreserved parathyroid tissue for severe hypocalcemia in a renal transplant recipient. Am. J. Transpl. 10(9), 2061–5 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-6143.2010.03234.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. T. Chapelle, K. Meuris, G. Roeyen, K. De Greef, G. Van Beeumen, J.L. Bosmans et al. Simultaneous kidney-parathyroid allotransplantation from a single donor after 20 years of tetany: a case report. Transpl. Proc. 41(2), 599–600 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.transproceed.2008.12.026

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. R. Garcia-Roca, S. Garcia-Aroz, I.G. Tzvetanov, P.C. Giulianotti, M. Campara, J. Oberholzer et al. Simultaneous living donor kidney and parathyroid allotransplantation: first case report and review of literature. Transplantation 100(6), 1318–21 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1097/TP.0000000000001042

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. N.M. Torregrosa, J.M. Rodríguez, S. Llorente, M.D. Balsalobre, A. Rios, L. Jimeno et al. Definitive treatment for persistent hypoparathyroidism in a kidney transplant patient: parathyroid allotransplantation. Thyroid 15(11), 1299–302 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2005.15.1299

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. N. Vallant, M.D. Sinha, M. Cheung, N. Ware, H. Jones, J. Buck et al. Simultaneous kidney and parathyroid transplantation in the management of genetic hypoparathyroidism in a child. Transpl. Direct 8(4), e1284 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1097/TXD.0000000000001284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. B. Goncu, H. Salepcioglu Kaya, E. Yucesan, Y.E. Ersoy, A. Akcakaya, Graft survival effect of HLA-A allele matching parathyroid allotransplantation. J. Investig. Med 69(3), 785–788 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1136/jim-2020-001648

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. A. Agha, M.N. Scherer, C. Moser, T. Karrasch, C. Girlich, F. Eder et al. Living-donor parathyroid allotransplantation for therapy-refractory postsurgical persistent hypoparathyroidism in a nontransplant recipient - three year results: a case report. BMC Surg. 16(1), 51 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-016-0165-y

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. E. Aysan, B. Altug, C. Ercan, C. Kesgin Toka, U.O. Idiz, M. Muslumanoglu, Parathyroid allotransplant with a new technique: a prospective clinical trial. Exp. Clin. Transpl. 14(4), 431–5 (2016). https://doi.org/10.6002/ect.2014.0294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. E. Yucesan, B. Goncu, H. Basoglu, N. Ozten Kandas, Y.E. Ersoy, F. Akbas, et al. Fresh tissue parathyroid allotransplantation with short-term immunosuppression: 1-year follow-up. Clin. Transplant. 31(11) (2017). https://doi.org/10.1111/ctr.13086

  52. E. Aysan, E. Yucesan, U.O. Idiz, B. Goncu, Discharging a patient treated with parathyroid allotransplantation after having been hospitalized for 3.5 years with permanent hypoparathyroidism: a case report. Transpl. Proc. 51(9), 3186–3188 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.transproceed.2019.03.036

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. E. Yucesan, B. Goncu, B. Ozdemir, O. Idiz, Y.E. Ersoy, E. Aysan, Importance of HLA typing, PRA and DSA tests for successful parathyroid allotransplantation. Immunobiology 224(4), 485–489 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imbio.2019.05.007

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. E. Aysan, U. Kilic, O. Gok, B. Altug, C. Ercan, C. Kesgin Toka et al. Parathyroid allotransplant for persistent hypocalcaemia: a new technique involving short-term culture. Exp. Clin. Transpl. 14(2), 238–41 (2016). https://doi.org/10.6002/ect.2014.0110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. I. Can, E. Aysan, E. Yucesan, M. Sayitoglu, U. Ozbek, M. Ercivan et al. Parathyroid allotransplantation in rabbits without cultivation. Int J. Clin. Exp. Med. 7(1), 280–4 (2014)

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  56. M.A. Guerrero, D.B. Evans, J.E. Lee, R. Bao, A. Bereket, S. Gantela et al. Viability of cryopreserved parathyroid tissue: when is continued storage versus disposal indicated? World J. Surg. 32(5), 836–9 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-007-9437-0

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. T. Tołłoczko, B. Woźniewicz, A. Sawicki, A. Górski, Allotransplantation of cultured human parathyroid cells: present status and perspectives. Transpl. Proc. 29(1-2), 998–1000 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1016/s0041-1345(96)00342-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. C.Z. Yao, J. Ishizuka, C.M. Townsend Jr, J.C. Thompson, Successful intracerebroventricular allotransplantation of parathyroid tissue in rats without immunosuppression. Transplantation 55(2), 251–3 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1097/00007890-199302000-00003

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. J.M. Hermosillo-Sandoval, K.L. Leonher-Ruezga, J.A. Jiménez-Gómez, C. Fuentes-Orozco, A. González-Ojeda, L.R. Ramírez-González. Alotrasplante de paratiroides: seguimiento a 2 años [Allogeneic parathyroid: 2-year follow-up]. Cir. Cir. 83(3), 188–92 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.circir.2015.05.002

  60. J.L.H. Zhang, N.M. Appelman-Dijkstra, A. Schepers, Parathyroid allotransplantation: a systematic review. Med. Sci. 10(1), 19 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci10010019

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study’s conception. Material preparation was performed by D.D.G. The first draft of the manuscript was written by D.D.G. and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel Duarte Gadelha.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gadelha, D.D., Filho, W.A., Brandão, M.A.J. et al. Is parathyroid allotransplantation a viable option in the treatment of permanent hypoparathyroidism? A review of the literature. Endocrine 80, 253–265 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-022-03292-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-022-03292-5

Keywords

Navigation