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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2012; 120(03): 169-170
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1301290
Short Communication
© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Serum Procalcitonin and Calcitonin Normal Values Before and After Calcium Gluconate Infusion

Authors

  • L. Giovanella

    1   Department of Nuclear Medicine and Thyroid Centre, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland
    2   Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
Further Information

Publication History

received 21 July 2011
first decision 23 December 2011

accepted 04 January 2012

Publication Date:
10 February 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Aim:

To evaluate and compare serum procalcitonin (PCT) and calcitonin (hCT) levels before and after stimulation with intravenous calcium gluconate in selected thyroid healthy subjects.

Methods:

There were enrolled 78 healthy blood donors with no history of thyroid disease, renal disease, neuroendocrine tumours, infections or inflammatory diseases, and taking no proton-pump inhibitors medication. Serum PCT and hCT were measured before and after intravenous injection of 2.5 mg/kg calcium gluconate.

Results:

Undetectable basal PCT values were found in all subjects while a marginal increase occurred only in 2 male subjects after stimulation. The basal and stimulated 95th percentile hCT values were 7.80 pg/mL and 102 pg/mL in males and 5.20 pg/mL and 78.5 pg/mL in females, respectively.

Conclusions:

Our data suggest that calcium gluconate physiologically stimulate the release of mature hCT molecule from the parafollicular C-cells with no or minimal effects on the PCT release. Our preliminary results form a reliable reference platform for basal and calcium-stimulated PCT measurements in clinical studies.

Key words

calcitonin - procalcitonin - medullary thyroid carcinoma - calcium gluconate
 

  • References

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