McMaster Department of Medicine researchers have played key leading roles in the development of new guidelines for treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism. The guidelines will help physicians around the world provide the best quality care for people with parathyroid disease.

Dr. Aliya Khan, Clinical Professor of Medicine, co-chaired the international steering committee that oversaw the process and led the development of the hypoparathyroidism guidelines. Dr. Gordon Guyatt, Professor of Medicine, was the methodologist and worked with two PhD students on the study methodology.

The work began nearly three years ago and brought together 100 international experts in parathyroid disease representing all major endocrine societies and endocrine surgery societies around the world. The experts completed systematic reviews, as well as several metaanalyses, and made recommendations to address diagnosis and management of both primary hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism. The guidelines have new sections on disease management in pregnant and breastfeeding women which had previously not existed, as well as recommendations related to genetic testing, disease complications, and new drugs. They also developed a research agenda to advance the knowledge base of parathyroid disease.

The two guidelines have been endorsed by 65 international endocrine societies and endocrine surgery societies and are now being presented around the world. The guidelines have resulted in 18 publications spread over two issues of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, available this week.