Impaired Quality of Life and Cognitive Function in Patients With Hypoparathyroidism Might be Explained by Disturbed Capillary Flow Patterns in the Brain

Detailed Summary

Hypoparathyroidism (HypoPT) is a disease with inadequate production of parathyroid hormone (PTH) from the parathyroid glands leading to hypocalcemia. The most common form is postsurgical HypoPT due to neck surgery resulting in removed or damaged parathyroid glands. HypoPT is a complex disease with a reduced Quality of life, mild cognitive impairment and in some patients have brain calcifications. The aim of the present study is to investigate the cognitive function in patients with postsurgical and non-surgical (HypoPT) by neuropsychological assessments and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The investigators will apply a contrast-enhanced MRI based method to HypoPT patients and age- and gender matched controls to examine whether capillary dysfunction can be detected, and whether symptom severity across patients correlates with the degree of capillary dysfunction in certain brain regions. To our knowledge there have been no previous studies on cognitive impairment and its origin in patients with HypoPT. The investigators hypothesize that the symptoms of HypoPT patients represent various degrees of capillary dysfunction, which interfere with their brain function.

Study Details

Timeline

Interventions