Mathematical Models of Parathyroid Gland Biology: Complexity and Clinical Use

Altered parathyroid gland biology is a major driver of chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) in patients with chronic kidney disease. CKD-MBD is associated with a high risk of vascular calcification and cardiovascular events. A hallmark of CKD-MBD is secondary hyperparathyroidism with increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) synthesis and release and reduced expression of calcium-sensing receptors on the surface of parathyroid cells and eventually hyperplasia of parathyroid gland cells. The KDIGO guidelines strongly recommend the control of PTH in hemodialysis patients. Due to the complexity of parathyroid gland biology, mathematical models have been employed to study the interaction of PTH regulators and PTH plasma concentrations. Here, we present an overview of various model approaches and discuss the impact of different model structures and complexities on the clinical use of these models.