Relationship between forearm and vertebral mineral density in postmenopausal women with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Vertebral and forearm mineral density of 28 postmenopausal women with mild primary hyperparathyroidism was measured and compared with expected values on the basis of age and years since menopause. In these patients we found that the bone deficit in the distal forearm was greater than in the spine, and 8 patients had already suffered one or more peripheral fractures. This suggests that postmenopausal women with mild, asymptomatic hypercalcemia of primary hyperparathyroidism are likely to be relatively more predisposed to peripheral than vertebral fractures, which is clear evidence of the need for treatment to prevent bone loss in these patients.