Background. Subtotal parathyroidectomy (SPTX) and total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation (TPTX and AT) are standard procedures in the treatment of renal autonomous hyperparathyroidism. In contrast to primary hyperparathyroidism, the persistence/recurrence rate is reported of up to 12.0%. Patients and methods. Between 1986 and 2000 we operated on 304 patients with renal autonomous hyperparathyroidism including 14 patients who were admitted after a primary operation in an outside hospital. Mean observation period was 51.438.9months. Results. The overall persistence/recurrence rate in our patients was 9.0% (26/290). After SPTX, excluding patients with an incomplete operation, it was 3.7%, and after TPTX and AT it was 6.0%. Reasons for developing recurrent or persistent disease in these patients were removal of less than 3.5 glands (n=12), hyperplastic autograft (n=5), and supernumerary gland (n=4). After the first reoperation 7 patients (26.9%) had persistent or recurrent disease. Conclusions. An incomplete primary operation caused by missed cervical glands was the major reason for persistent (n=8) or recurrent (n=4) disease after different operative strategies in renal autonomous hyperparathyroidism.