Pre- and postoperative respiratory muscle strength in primary hyperparathyroidism.

Muscle function in ten hyperparathyroid patients and six patients with benign thyroid disease was assessed by measuring maximal expiratory (Pe max) and inspiratory (Pi max) pressures before and 6-12 months after neck surgery. Pe max was improved in all the hyperparathyroid patients postoperatively (p less than 0.002), while the median value of Pi max was unchanged. In the control (thyroid) group there was no significant postoperative change in either Pe max or Pi max. It is concluded that normalization of hypercalcemia improves respiratory muscular capacity, which can be quantified by measuring maximal expiratory pressure.