Abstract
The object of this study was to determine whether increased circulating levels of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rp) may explain the increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) bioactivity in pregnancy. In 41 healthy pregnant women (age 19–41 years), PTH-rp and corrected calcium levels were measured and compared with those of nonpregnant control women (n=18, age 20–39 years). PTH-rp and corrected calcium levels were significantly higher in pregnant women (PTH-rp 21.9±7.9 pg/ml, P<0.001; corrected calcium 2.38±0.07 mmol/liter, P=0.001) than in nonpregnant women (PTH-rp 10.3±7.8 pg/ml; corrected calcium 2.30±0.10 mmol/liter). Our data indicate that circulating PTH-rp levels may significantly increase in pregnancy, suggesting a possible role of this peptide in the modification of calcium homeostasis in pregnant women.
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Bertelloni, S., Baroncelli, G.I., Pelletti, A. et al. Parathyroid hormone-related protein in healthy pregnant women. Calcif Tissue Int 54, 195–197 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301677
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301677