Coronary artery disease and its vascular associates in patients with chronic nonsurgical hypoparathyroidism

Objective Patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism (cHypoPT) are prone to intracranial‐calcification, cataract and nephrocalcinosis. In this study, we systematically investigated the possibility of increased coronary artery calcification (CAC) and coronary artery disease (CAD) in them. Design Cross‐sectional. Patients and Measurements Ninety‐four nonsurgical cHypoPT (M:F = 50:44; age = 45 ± 15 years) with 18.6 ± 9.3 years of illness were assessed. Those with dyspnoea, angina, syncope, abnormal electrocardiogram, echocardiography or significant CAC underwent coronary angiography or myocardial‐perfusion‐stress imaging. Their lipid parameters and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) were compared with age‐matched healthy controls (Group A, n = 101). The prevalence of CAC in cHypoPT was compared with that of subjects referred from cardiology‐clinics (Group B, n = 148, age = 52 ± 11 years). Results One of 94 cHypoPT had known CAD. On screening, 17 cHypoPT required evaluation for CAD. Two of 17 had severe coronary stenosis, and 12 showed subclinical CAD. CAC and aortic‐valve calcification occurred in 21.5% and 11.8%. Clinical and subclinical CAD, CAC and aortic‐valve calcification in cHypoPT ≥50 years of age was 8.1%, 27.0%, 52.8% and 27.8%, respectively. Frequency of age‐adjusted CAC was comparable between cHypoPT and control Group B (30.2% vs. 30.7%, p = .93). Elevated hsCRP was higher in cHypoPT than in controls A (52% vs. 32%, p