Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Scherkl, M.
A prospective cohort study of cognitive function in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Medizinische Universität Graz; 2021. pp. 75
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Amrein Karin
- Tmava-Berisha Adelina
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Background: Chronic hypoparathyroidism is a rare endocrine disorder, characterized by inadequately low parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in the blood. It typically occurs postoperatively after impairment of parathyroid tissue in the setting of neck surgeries. Possible late manifestations of consecutive calcium and phosphate disturbances are severe and may lead to intracranial calcification and cognitive dysfunction. Affected patients report frequent concentration deficits ranging from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. The aim of this thesis was to determine the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction in adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, a battery of neurocognitive tests including the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Multiple-Choice Vocabulary Test B (MWT-B), and the Munich Memory Test B (MMT-B), was used to assess general cognitive functions. In the period from December 2019 to January 2021, 10 adult patients with diagnosed hypoparathyroidism could be identified as study participants and underwent neurocognitive assessment. The results were compared with the test results of a non-exposed patient group. Results: 9 out of 10 study participants were women. The mean age at onset of the disease was 34.9 (± 12.4) years, and the neurocognitive assessment was performed after an average of 8.2 (± 8.5) years of disease duration. The global MMSE score of the study group of 29.5 (± 0.8) was similar to the control group with 29.7 (± 0.6) points. None of the study participants had a score below the threshold of 24, which would indicate impaired cognitive function. According to the MWT-B, the mean estimated intelligence quotient (IQ) of the study group was 106 (± 10.2) and therefore above the raw score of the norming sample, defined as 100. The statistical evaluation of the test results showed no correlation between chronic hypoparathyroidism and cognitive dysfunction. Conclusions: According to the current literature, chronic hypoparathyroidism may be associated with cognitive dysfunction. However, there is currently only limited data available on the pathophysiological link between these two entities. In our small sample size, no substantial difference was seen between patients and controls. Further studies including functional CT and MRI testing need to provide laboratory and neuroimaging evidence along with cognitive assessment to support an association between PTH deficiency and impaired cognitive functions. Also, the therapeutic effects of PTH replacement should be addressed.