Abstract

Left ventricular hypertrophy (symmetric, asymmetric, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) is an almost invariable accompaniment of primary hyperparathyroidism. Five of 18 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy had raised serum concentrations of parathyroid hormone with normal serum calcium concentrations. Left ventricular hypertrophy did not occur in any of the six patients with hypercalcaemia alone. These relations suggest that parathyroid hormone rather than a rise in the extracellular calcium concentration is associated with a spectrum of left ventricular hypertrophy. All patients with increased circulating parathyroid hormone concentrations should have echocardiographic examination of the left ventricle. Conversely, parathyroid hormone concentrations should be measured in all patients with left ventricular hypertrophy from an unknown cause, especially those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.