From the Research
Relationship Between Elevated Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Levels and Intestinal Candidiasis
- There is limited direct evidence on the relationship between elevated PTH levels and intestinal Candidiasis 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
- However, a study published in 2020 found that patients with genetic hypoparathyroidism, including those with autoimmune-candidiasis-polyendocrinopathy-ectodermal-dysplasia (APECED) syndrome, had improved clinical signs of hypocalcemia and biochemical parameters after treatment with recombinant human parathormone (rhPTH(1-34)) 3.
- Another study published in 1997 reported a case of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism with fungal seminal vesiculitis, where the patient recovered after treatment with fluconazole and vitamin D (alfacalcitol), suggesting a possible link between hypoparathyroidism and fungal infections 2.
- Elevated PTH levels have been associated with increased inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), red cell distribution width (RDW), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) 5.
- It is essential to note that PTH measurements can be falsely elevated due to assay interference or macro-PTH, which can lead to incorrect diagnosis or unnecessary investigations 4.
Key Findings
- Recombinant human parathormone (rhPTH(1-34)) treatment may be effective in managing hypoparathyroidism in patients with intestinal malabsorption or low compliance to conventional therapy 3.
- Vitamin D has immunological effects and may play a role in the treatment of fungal infections in patients with hypoparathyroidism 2.
- Elevated PTH levels are associated with increased inflammatory markers, which may indicate a link between PTH and inflammation 5.