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Secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) was evaluated in 157 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). It was noted that HPT developed early in CRF at a time when plasma calcium and phosphorous were within normal limits. As creatinine clearance decreased below 80 mL/m, there was a significant decrease in plasma calcitriol and a slow and progressive significant increment in plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH). The effect of dietary intake of calcium and phosphorous was evaluated in these patients with early renal failure (ERF). They were divided into two groups. Group A was placed on a protein- and phosphorous-restricted diet (10 days) followed by a daily phosphorous-load diet (10 days). Group B had similar sequential diets plus a calcium supplement throughout the study. Dietary protein and phosphorous restriction resulted in an amelioration of the HPT only in the group of patients receiving calcium supplementation. The phosphate-load diet resulted in worsening of HPT in both groups. In summary, a deficit of calcitriol occurs early in CRF, which in turn leads to a significant increase in PTH. Phosphorous restriction, together with calcium supplementation, ameliorated the HPT of patients with ERF.

Renal function impairment and electrolyte disorders in hypothyroidism are frequently subtle and rarely observed in clinical practice. To assess the extent of these defects, serum concentration of electrolytes and glomerular filtration rate were estimated before and after thyroid replacement therapy in 41 patients with primary hypothyroidism. All patients had decreased glomerular filtration rates and 22 patients had increased serum creatinine levels. Although a relationship between creatinine clearance and serum thyrothropin-stimulating hormone was not found, a weak correlation between age and serum creatinine concentration was observed. Hyponatremia was documented in 45% of 22 patients with elevated serum creatinine but in only 21% of 19 patients with normal creatinine. All these defects were corrected by treatment with thyroid hormone. We conclude that creatinine clearance was slightly decreased in all patients with hypothyroidism, this decrease being more noticeable in elderly patients. The greater the impairment in renal function, the more common was the occurrence of hyponatremia.