Introduction: Prevalence of hypertension is high in hemodialysis patients. Increase of intracellular calcium due to hyperparathyroidism is one of probable factors for hypertension in hemodialysis patients. In this study, the relationship between serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level and severity of hypertension in hemodialysis patients was investigated.
Materials and methods: In a case-control study, 50 hemodialysis patients with hypertension were compared with 50 hemodialysis patients without hypertension. The two groups were comparable in age, sex, body mass index, hemodialysis duration, KT/V, serum calcium, hemoglobin, and erythropoietin dose. Serum PTH level was measured in the two groups.
Results: The mean age was 57.0 ± 7.7 years in the hypertensive group and 56.4 ± 6.0 years in the control group (P = .61). The mean hemodialysis duration was 15.28 ± 5.74 months in the hypertensive group and 14.98 ± 6.35 months in the control group. The mean serum PTH was 487.18 ± 408.85 pg/mL in hypertensives (445.12 ± 447.92 pg/mL in stage 1 of hypertension and 561.94 ± 326.67 pg/mL in stage 2 of hypertension, P = .003) and 170.64 ± 122.09 pg/mL in the case group (P = .001).
Conclusions: According to this study, there is a positive relationship between serum PTH and severity of hypertension in hemodialysis patients. We conclude that control of secondary hyperparathyroidism might be helpful in controlling hypertension in hemodialysis patients.