BACKGROUND: The "intact" parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay recognizes PTH-(1-84) as well as amino terminally truncated PTH fragments, that is, large carboxyterminal PTH fragments (C-PTH fragments). The present study investigated whether the use of the plasma PTH-(1-84)/C-PTH fragment ratio enhances the noninvasive assessment of bone turnover in patients on dialysis. METHODS: Bone biopsies and blood samples for determinations of routine indices of bone turnover and PTH peptides were obtained in 51 adult patients on dialysis not treated with drugs affecting bone such as vitamin D or corticosteroids. Blood levels of large C-PTH fragments were calculated by subtracting PTH-(1-84) from "intact" PTH. Patients were classified according to their levels of bone turnover based on histomorphometrically obtained results of activation frequency. Prediction of bone turnover by the various blood indices was done by using proper statistical methods. In addition, hypercalcemia was induced by calcium gluconate infusion in a subset of patients, and levels of PTH-(1-84), "intact" PTH, and PTH-(1-84)/C-PTH fragment ratio were determined. RESULTS: The PTH-(1-84)/C-PTH fragment ratio was the best predictor of bone turnover. A ratio> 1 predicted high or normal bone turnover (sensitivity 100%), whereas a ratio <1 indicated a high probability (sensitivity 87.5%) of low bone turnover. Calcium infusion resulted in decrease in PTH-(1-84)/C-PTH fragment ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The PTH-(1-84)/C-PTH fragment ratio predicts bone turnover with acceptable precision for biological measurements. Moreover, a change in serum calcium levels is one of the regulators of the relative amount of circulating PTH-(1-84) and its large C-PTH fragments.
BACKGROUND: The "intact" parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay recognizes PTH-(1-84) as well as amino terminally truncated PTH fragments, that is, large carboxyterminal PTH fragments (C-PTH fragments). The present study investigated whether the use of the plasma PTH-(1-84)/C-PTH fragment ratio enhances the noninvasive assessment of bone turnover in patients on dialysis. METHODS: Bone biopsies and blood samples for determinations of routine indices of bone turnover and PTH peptides were obtained in 51 adult patients on dialysis not treated with drugs affecting bone such as vitamin D or corticosteroids. Blood levels of large C-PTH fragments were calculated by subtracting PTH-(1-84) from "intact" PTH. Patients were classified according to their levels of bone turnover based on histomorphometrically obtained results of activation frequency. Prediction of bone turnover by the various blood indices was done by using proper statistical methods. In addition, hypercalcemia was induced by calcium gluconate infusion in a subset of patients, and levels of PTH-(1-84), "intact" PTH, and PTH-(1-84)/C-PTH fragment ratio were determined. RESULTS: The PTH-(1-84)/C-PTH fragment ratio was the best predictor of bone turnover. A ratio> 1 predicted high or normal bone turnover (sensitivity 100%), whereas a ratio <1 indicated a high probability (sensitivity 87.5%) of low bone turnover. Calcium infusion resulted in decrease in PTH-(1-84)/C-PTH fragment ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The PTH-(1-84)/C-PTH fragment ratio predicts bone turnover with acceptable precision for biological measurements. Moreover, a change in serum calcium levels is one of the regulators of the relative amount of circulating PTH-(1-84) and its large C-PTH fragments.
Authors: Johann Herberth; Adam J Branscum; Hanna Mawad; Tom Cantor; Marie-Claude Monier-Faugere; Hartmut H Malluche Journal: Am J Kidney Dis Date: 2010-03-27 Impact factor: 8.860
Authors: Katherine Wesseling-Perry; Renata C Pereira; Hejing Wang; Robert M Elashoff; Shobha Sahney; Barbara Gales; Harald Jüppner; Isidro B Salusky Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2008-12-02 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Katherine Wesseling-Perry; G Chris Harkins; He-Jing Wang; Shobha Sahney; Barbara Gales; Robert M Elashoff; Harald Jüppner; Isidro B Salusky Journal: Pediatr Nephrol Date: 2009-03-20 Impact factor: 3.714