Preventive Effect of Dexamethasone Therapy on the Transient Hypoparathyroidism through Total Thyroidectomy

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate whether pre-operative dexamethasone could ameliorate transient hypoparathyroidism outcome through total thyroidectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 128 patients underwent total thyroidectomy from March 2014 to April 2015. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups of experimental receiving 8 mg IV of intravenous dexamethasone (n=45) 45 min before skin incision treatment and control (n=83). After the surgery, all patients were evaluated for clinical and laboratory hypocalcaemia. RESULTS: Post-operative transient biochemical hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcaemia did not occur more often in the control group, compared to the dexamethasone group while controlling for the baseline variables. However, there was a significant difference in phosphorus level between the dexamethasone and control groups (P=0.028). A total of 50 (39.1%) patients developed hypocalcaemia after surgery. Moreover, post-operative symptomatic hypocalcemia occurred more frequently in the control group (68%) compared to the dexamethasone group (32%); however, this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.54). CONCLUSION: The pre-operative administration of dexamethasone reduced post-operative hypocalcemia rate. It is essential to conduct future studies with validated means for better results.