Effects of Beta‐Adrenergic Blockade on Serum Parathyroid Hormone in Normal Subjects and Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism

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Abstract
The autonomous nervous system can affect the secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH). The short-term effects of propranolol were investigated in 13 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) and 6 normal subjects. During a 2-h infusion there were no changes in serum PTH or Ca concentrations in any of the individuals studied. During long-term treatment of HPT patients with .beta.-blocking agents for 2-6 mo. no reduction of raised PTH levels was detected and the hypercalcemia was unaffected. These findings question the importance of the adrenergic system for the normal regulation of serum PTH levels and its role for hormone hypersecretion in primary HPT. This experiment does not support the use of propranolol as an alternative to surgery in patients with primary HPT.