Immunoradiometric assay of parathyrin with polyclonal and monoclonal region-specific antibodies.

In this immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) of parathyrin (PTH) a polyclonal anti-amino-PTH(1-34) is the capture antibody and a radiolabeled monoclonal anti-hPTH(44-68) is the second antibody. Gel filtration of serum from a hyperparathyroid patient yielded only a single peak of PTH, corresponding to the elution position of synthetic PTH(1-84). Healthy elderly individuals (ages 78 +/- 5 y, mean +/- SD, n = 45) had PTH concentrations (21 +/- 13 ng/L) not significantly higher than those from healthy younger (38 +/- 11 y) adults (20 +/- 8 ng/L, n = 94). Assay results agreed well with those obtained with a carboxyl-terminal PTH assay both in normal subjects (r = 0.63, P less than 0.001) and in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (r = 0.59, P less than 0.001). Both assays equally discriminated patients with surgically confirmed primary hyperparathyroidism from normal individuals, but the PTH(1-84) IRMA also allowed a nearly absolute discrimination between normal subjects and patients with primary hypoparathyroidism (undetectable serum PTH in 18 of 21 cases) and secondary hypoparathyroidism (caused by hypercalcemia that was caused by a malignant tumor, PTH 1.3 +/- 1.3 ng/L, n = 32). Moreover, the PTH(1-84) IRMA is more sensitive (detection limit in serum, 0.8 ng/L) and easier and quicker to perform than the carboxyl-terminal assay.     

Bioassay of parathyrin: analytical characteristics and clinical performance in patients with hypercalcemia

This new bioassay for parathyrin (PTH) in plasma (bio-PTH) combines immunoextraction on affinity columns [goat anti-hPTH (1-44) conjugated to Sepharose 4B] and a receptor assay involving an osteosarcoma cell line. The mean extraction efficacy ranges from 87% (as determined with immunopurified 125I-labeled PTH) to 62% for hPTH bioactivity. The assay is standardized with synthetic hPTH (1-84) and can detect as little as 0.9 pmol/L of PTH in 2 mL of plasma. In 100 healthy adults, the 95% reference interval for bio-PTH was less than 0.9 to 6.1 pmol/L (median, 2.0 pmol/L). In 185 patients with surgically confirmed hyperparathyroidism, bio-PTH concentrations ranged from 1.0 to greater than 120 pmol/L (median, 12.9 pmol/L); 80% of values were greater than 6.1 pmol/L. In 50 patients with both preoperative and postoperative determinations, the mean (+/--SD) concentrations of calcium in serum were 113 +/- 10 and 89 +/- 6 mg/L, respectively; the median bio-PTH concentrations were 13.6 and 2.0 pmol/L, respectively. In 22 patients with nonparathyroid-mediated hypercalcemia, the concentration of bio-PTH ranged from less than 0.9 to 5.3 pmol/L (median, 1.8 pmol/L). This bio-PTH assay is slightly less sensitive than our GP235 immunoreactive PTH (iPTH) immunoassay for detecting hyperparathyroidism (Clin Chem 1982;28:69-74); however, the bioassay is more specific and detected some cases missed by the iPTH assay. Overall, 95% of the hyperparathyroid patients had an increased test result for either the bio-PTH or the iPTH assay.     

Determination of intact parathyrin by immunoradiometric assay evaluated in normal children and in patients with various disorders of calcium metabolism

We report the reference values for intact parathyrin (PTH) measured by a two-site immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) during childhood. The study has been carried out in 215 healthy children and adolescents, ages 2.0 to 18.7 years. Some patients with altered mineral homeostasis were also studied to assess the sensitivity of the method in a clinical setting. Mean intact PTH concentrations were 30.8 (SD 9.6) ng/L; the median was 28.5 ng/L. Normal reference values were 16.0-59.0 ng/L (95% confidence interval). The distribution of intact PTH values was nongaussian. We found no significant variations between males and females and no age-related variations. The IRMA used was sufficiently sensitive to detect differences in PTH concentrations between healthy children and patients with hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia.     

Technical and clinical characterization of the Bio-PTH (1-84) immunochemiluminometric assay and comparison with a second-generation assay for parathyroid hormone

BACKGROUND: The Bio-Intact parathyroid hormone (1-84) assay (Bio-PTH), a newly developed two-site immunochemiluminometric assay, measures exclusively PTH (1-84) in contrast to second-generation "intact PTH" (I-PTH) assays. We investigated the technical performance and clinical significance of this new assay. METHODS: PTH was measured simultaneously by the Bio-PTH assay and Allegro intact PTH IRMA in sera from Japanese patients with calcium disorders. RESULTS: Measured Bio-PTH in serum was unaffected by six freeze-thaw cycles and was stable at 4 degrees C for 7 days and during storage at -20 or -80 degrees C over 28 days. The calibration curve was linear to 1800 ng/L. The detection limit was 3.9 ng/L. The intra- and interassay imprecision was <2.8% and 3.5%, respectively, for analyte concentrations spanning the range of the calibration curve. Bio-PTH was unaffected by a 1000-fold excess of PTH (7-84), although I-PTH reacted equally with PTH (7-84) and PTH (1-84). Bio-PTH was correlated with I-PTH in healthy individuals (r = 0.953; P <0.0001; n = 26) and in the full population without renal dysfunction (r = 0.994; P <0.0001; n = 62). In 72 volunteers, mean (SD) Bio-PTH was 22.2 (7.1) ng/L, or 62% of the mean I-PTH [36.1 (22.3) ng/L]. This ratio was 51% in hemodialysis patients (n = 177). Mean Bio-PTH was high in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism [121 (85) ng/L; n = 18] and hemodialysis patients [102 (104) ng/L; n = 177], low in idiopathic hypoparathyroidism [5.5 (2.8) ng/L; n = 4], and within 2 SD of the mean for healthy controls in Paget disease of the bone [34 (15) ng/L; n = 9] and bone metastasis [24 (12) ng/L; n = 8]. CONCLUSION: The Bio-PTH assay is sensitive and precise and produces expected results for patients with the studied disorders of calcium metabolism.     

不同血液净化方法对慢性肾功能衰竭维持性血液透析患者血清甲状旁腺素的影响

目的比较不同血液净化技术对慢性肾功能衰竭(肾衰)维持性血液透析患者血清甲状旁腺素(PTH)的清除效果.方法符合入选标准的90例慢性肾衰维持性血液透析患者随机分为血液吸附(AP)组、血液透析滤过(HDF)组、血液透析(HD)组3组.AP组接受血液吸附联合血液透析治疗,HDF组接受血液透析滤过1次,HD组接受血液透析治疗.用放射免疫法测定血清PTH水平;记录患者治疗前后血白蛋白、球蛋白、尿素氮、肌酐、PTH的变化,比较3组的肾小球滤过率(GFR)和透析时间.结果①AP组患者治疗后血PTH从(291.7±237.5)ng/L降至(122.2±114.5)ng/L,平均单次清除率为48.6%±55.2%,治疗前后比较有显著性差异(P<0.05);皮肤瘙痒缓解率为83.3%(10/12例).②HDF组患者治疗后血PTH从(325.9±423.1)ng/L降至(90.9±93.7)ng/L,平均单次清除率为59.5%±22.7%.治疗前后比较有显著性差异(P<0.05);皮肤瘙痒缓解率为50.0%(4/8例).③HD组患者治疗后血PTH从(297.7±211.3)ng/L降至(248.1±105.5)ng/L,平均单次清除率为13.1%±30.2%,治疗前后比较无显著性差异(P>0.05);皮肤瘙痒缓解率为14.3%(1/7例).结论①血液吸附联合血液透析治疗慢性肾衰能有效清除PTH,缓解皮肤瘙痒症状.②血液透析滤过能有效清除PTH,缓解皮肤瘙痒症状.③血液透析不能有效清除PTH,也不能有效缓解皮肤瘙痒症状.     

Development and validation of an immunoradiometric assay of parathyrin-related protein in unextracted plasma

This two-site immunoradiometric assay for human parathyrin-related protein 1-86 (PTHRP1-86) in plasma uses a mouse monoclonal antibody to PTHRP1-34 coupled to cellulose particles for immunoextraction of N-terminal immunoreactivity, and a rabbit antiserum to PTHRP37-67 that is indirectly labeled with 125I-labeled PTHRP37-67 for quantifying the bound analyte. The detection limit of the assay is 0.23 pmol/L, corresponding to 0.4 pg (0.04 fmol) per tube, for a sample volume of 200 microL. Recovery of PTHRP1-86 added to serum is essentially quantitative, and within- and between-batch precision is 4.4% and 11.1%, respectively. PTH1-84, PTHRP18-34, PTHRP9-34, PTHRP1-34, and PTHRP37-67 do not cross-react in the assay at concentrations up to 2 nmol/L. Plasma concentrations of PTHRP1-86 were below or close to the detection limit of the assay in normal subjects and in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, chronic renal failure, and normocalcemic malignancy. In 37 hypercalcemic patients with various malignancies, we found detectable PTHRP1-86 concentrations in 35 (95%, mean 7.4 pmol/L, range 0.46-24.7). The data support the proposed humoral role of PTHRP in cancer-associated hypercalcemia and suggest that the assay has clinical utility in the differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia.     

Modified immunoradiometric assay of parathyroid hormone-related protein: clinical application in the differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia.

We have developed a sensitive, specific solid-phase immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-RP) with use of affinity-purified polyclonal immunoglobulins. Antibodies recognizing PTH-RP(37-74) are immobilized to a polystyrene bead to "capture" analytes from the sample; antibodies to epitopes within the 1-36 amino acid region of PTH-RP are labeled with 125I. This IRMA recognizes PTH-RP(1-74) and PTH-RP(1-86) equivalently, but does not detect N-terminal or C-terminal fragments of PTH-RP, intact human parathyrin (PTH), or fragments of PTH. PTH-RP is not stable in plasma at 3-5 degrees C or room temperature, but a mixture of aprotinin (500 kallikrein units/L) and leupeptin (2.5 mg/L) improves PTH-RP stability in blood samples. In plasma collected in the presence of these protease inhibitors from normal volunteers and patients with various disorders of calcium metabolism, PTH-RP concentrations were above normal (greater than 1.5 pmol/L) in 91% (42 of 46) of patients with hypercalcemia associated with nonhematological malignancy. In plasma from patients with other hypercalcemic conditions (e.g., primary hyperparathyroidism, sarcoidosis, and vitamin D excess), PTH-RP was undetectable. Above-normal concentrations of PTH-RP and total calcium decreased to normal in a patient with an ovarian cyst adenocarcinoma after surgical removal of the tumor. We conclude that PTH-RP is related to and probably the causative agent of hypercalcemia in most patients with cancer, and that measurements of PTH-RP are useful in the diagnosis and management of patients with tumor-associated hypercalcemia.     

Clinical evaluation of two novel biointact PTH(1–84) assays in hemodialysis patients

Objectives

In chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD), most treatment decisions are guided by parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Here, we aimed at assessing the technical and clinical performance of two novel automated biointact PTH(1–84) assays, from Roche Diagnostics (Ro) and DiaSorin (DS), in hemodialysis patients.

Design and methods

We recorded demographics, dialysis treatment characteristics, pharmacotherapy for CKD-MBD and laboratory work-up. Statistical methods included Passing–Bablok, and multiple linear regression.

Results

121 patients, dialyzing on average for 3.5 years (range: 0.1–22.5), with serum phosphate 1.9 ± 0.6 mmol/L (mean ± SD), participated in the study. Median serum concentration for intact PTH was 223 ng/L (range: 5–2844), and for biointact PTH(1–84) was 136 ng/L (Ro; range: 1–1644), respectively 138 ng/L (DS; range: 4-1580). Both biointact assays were significantly correlated (r = 0.98; Ro = 0.87 × DS + 19.60). Bland–Altmann plots revealed an average bias ± 2 SD of 10 ± 27 ng/L below 200 ng/L, and − 32 ± 157 ng/L above 200 ng/L (Ro minus DS). The variably adjusted association between PTH and serum phosphate was very similar, regardless of the PTH assay, but this was not the case for PTH-derived measures (ratios biointact/intact; differences intact minus biointact). (Log)PTH concentrations as well as serum phosphate were significantly associated with serum creatinine, but only in patients with > 0 mL urine per day.

Conclusions

Results from Roche and DiaSorin biointact PTH(1–84) assays were well correlated, but showed increased deviations at higher concentrations. Biointact PTH(1–84) levels are roughly two third of intact PTH. The association between PTH and serum creatinine may depend on residual renal clearance of PTH and/or serum phosphate.     

Immunoreactive Forms of Circulating Parathyroid Hormone in Primary and Ectopic Hyperparathyroidism

The immunoreactive forms of parathyroid hormone (iPTH) in the plasma of six patients with primary, adenomatous hyperparathyroidism and six patients with ectopic hyperparathyroidism due to non-parathyroid cancer were compared by using gel filtration on columns of Bio-Gel P-150 and radioimmunoassay of iPTH in eluted fractions after concentration. We found much less (p<0.001) small (mol wt<9,500) COOH-terminal fragments of iPTH in plasma samples from ectopic hyperparathyroid patients (0.52+/-0.13 ng eq/ml) than in samples from primary hyperparathyroid patients (3.70+/-1.15 ng eq/ml). The quantity of iPTH eluting with or before native bovine PTH [1-84] was the same in both syndromes (ectopic hyperparathyroidism, 0.82+/-0.22 ng eq/ml; primary hyperparathyroidism, 0.73+/-0.09 ng eq/ml), and these values correlated positively with plasma calcium concentration (ectopic hyperparathyroidism, r=0.908; primary hyperparathyroidism, r=0.919). In both syndromes, plasma samples had an iPTH component that eluted well before PTH [1-84] (mol wt 9,500), but this component was present in much larger quantities in three patients with ectopic hyperparathyroidism. We conclude that (a) the decreased quantity of biologically inactive COOH-terminal fragments of iPTH circulating in ectopic hyperparathyroidism accounts for the previously reported relatively lower total serum iPTH values in this syndrome as compared with primary hyperparathyroidism (Riggs et al. 1971. J. Clin. Invest. 50: 2079); (b) there appears to be sufficient iPTH with presumed biologic activity to account for the hypercalcemia in both syndromes; (c) a large PTH component, not previously recognized in plasma, is present in both ectopic and primary hyperparathyroidism and may exist as the predominant immunoreactive form of the hormone in some patients with ectopic hyperparathyroidism.     

Intraoperative parathyroid hormone analysis: A study of 200 consecutive cases

BACKGROUND: Immunoassays for parathyroid hormone (PTH), with short incubation times and results available in <15 min, have allowed intraoperative monitoring of the success of parathyroid surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analytical performance of a rapid PTH assay and its clinical performance in a series of 200 patients. METHODS: PTH was measured with a modified immunochemiluminometric assay with a 7-min incubation time (QuiCk-IntraOperative(TM) Intact PTH assay). The rapid assay was compared with results in a central laboratory (immunoradiometric assay) in 44 EDTA-plasma specimens. The rapid assay was used intraoperatively in 200 consecutive cases with specimens analyzed before and 5-10 min after resection of the hypersecreting parathyroid gland(s). RESULTS: Intraassay imprecision was 12% at 28 ng/L and 11% at 278 ng/L. Regression analysis of results of the rapid PTH assay and the IRMA PTH assay in 44 parathyroidectomy patients yielded y = 1.26x - 12 ng/L, S:(y|x) = 26.3 ng/L, r = 0.984, and in 40 of 44 patients with values <200 ng/L, y = 1.02x + 1.9, S:(y|x) = 13.9, r = 0.947. In the 195 cases using intraoperative PTH testing with complete results and defined clinical outcomes, the overall accuracy of the assay in predicting surgical success was 88% using the criterion of a 50% decrease at 5-10 min and 97% including the subset of patients with delayed decreases of PTH. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid PTH assay had excellent analytical performance and excellent agreement with the PTH immunoradiometric assay and predicted the success of parathyroid surgery in this large series of consecutive patients.     

Human corticotropin (ACTH) radioimmunoassay with synthetic 1--24 ACTH.

A corticotropin antiserum was obtained from rabbits immunized with synthetic 1--24 corticotropin conjugated with bovine serum albumin. The antiserum did not cross react with synthetic alpha-melanotropin or with synthetic beta-endorphin and had a cross reactivity of 0.23% with human beta-lipotropin. We developed a radioimmunoassay with the antiserum obtained, in which we used polyethylene glycol in conjunction with a second precipitating antibody for fast (15-min) separation of antibody-bound and free corticotropin. The assay had a sensitivity of 16 ng/L and was validated on patients with various pituitary and adrenal diseases. From 103 normal subjects, the median value for corticotropin in specimens collected during the morning was 34 ng/L of plasma; the upper 95% confidence limit of the normal range was 98 ng/L.     

A radioimmunoassay for retinol-binding protein in serum and urine

In this radioimmunoassay for human retinol-binding protein (RBP), sample (serum, diluted as much as 3600-fold; or urine, diluted or undiluted) or calibrant (purified RBP in phosphate buffer containing bovine serum albumin) is incubated with 125I-labeled RBP and rabbit anti-human RBP antiserum for 24 h before separation with second antibody/polyethylene glycol. The assay's sensitivity is 5 micrograms/L, its useful working range 10 to 200 micrograms/L. The between-batch CV is 12.5% at 12 micrograms/L, 7% at 120 micrograms/L. Results correlate well (r = 0.99) with those by radial immunodiffusion. The reference interval for RBP in serum of men is 39-75 mg/L (mean 57), significantly (p less than 0.01) broader than for women (29-66 mg/L; mean 48). The 2.5-97.5 centile interval for RBP in urine is from less than 0.5 to 12.2 micrograms per millimole of creatinine (median 5.8). RBP in urine is unstable below pH 5.0 at 37 degrees C.     

Non-malignant causes of hypercalcemia in cancer patients: a frequent and neglected occurrence

Purpose

Hypercalcemia is a frequent finding in cancer patients and can be observed in any type of cancer. The physician in charge of cancer patients often ignores non-malignant causes of hypercalcemia. Our objective was to review the causes of hypercalcemia in a large series of cancer patients.

Methods

We have retrospectively studied in a Cancer Centre all consecutive hypercalcemic (Ca>?10.5 mg/dl) patients over an 8-year period. Of 699 evaluated patients, 642 were analyzed after exclusion of patients whose hypercalcemia resolved after rehydration or who had a normal Ca level after correction for protein concentrations. Clinical information was gathered on the type of cancer, its histology, whether the disease was active or in complete remission, and on the presence of bone metastases. Biochemical data included serum Ca, P_i, proteins in all patients, PTH in most patients, and PTHrP, 25OH-Vitamin D, 1,25(OH)₂–Vitamin D, TSH, and T4 in selected cases.

Results

By order of decreasing frequency, the main causes of hypercalcemia were cancer (69.0 %), primary hyperparathyroidism (24.6 %), hyperthyroidism (2.2 %), milk alkali syndrome (0.9 %), and sarcoidosis (0.45 %). In cancer-related causes, bone metastases accounted for 53.0 % of the cases, humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) for 35.3 % while there were 11.7 % of cases apparently due to both HHM and bone metastases. Hypercalcemia was not due to cancer in 97 % (84/87) of the patients who were in complete remission. Even in patients with active neoplastic disease, the number of patients whose hypercalcemia was not due to cancer remained clinically relevant (115/555?=?20.5 %). In the 158 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, 92 patients were in complete remission and 66 patients had active neoplastic disease.

Conclusions

In this large series of hypercalcemia in cancer patients, the cause was not due to cancer in almost one third of the cases. Most patients considered to be in complete remission had hypercalcemia due to a benign condition. In that perspective, serum PTH determination is essential in the approach of hypercalcemic cancer patients since primary hyperparathyroidism is by far the first non-malignant cause of hypercalcemia.     

Urinary cyclic AMP analyzed as a function of the serum calcium and parathyroid hormone in the idfferential diagnosis of hypercalcemia.

Urinary cyclic AMP (UcAMP) appropriate for the serum calcium concentration was determined in normal subjects during the base-line state and during alteration in their serum calcium concentrations by saline and calcium infusions. This was compared to the UcAMP in 76 patients with hypercalcemia and 5 patients with hypocalcemia. In 54 of 56 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, the UcAMP was inappropriately high for their serum calcium concentration, the 2 exceptions having renal failure. In four patients with vitamin D intoxication, sarcoidosis, milkalkali syndrome, and thiazide-induced hypercalcemia and in five patients with hypocalcemia due to hypoparathyroidism, the UcAMP was appropriately low for their serum calcium concentration. In 16 patients with nonparathyroid neoplasms, 10 had UcAMP levels that were inappropriately high suggesting ectopic parathyroid hormone (PTH)-mediated hypercalcemia and 6 had UcAMP levels that were appropriately low suggesting that their hypercalcemia was due to osteolytic factors other than PTH. Correlations between UcAMP, serum calcium concentration, and carboxyl-terminal immunoreactive PTH suggest that random UcAMP is a sensitive accurate reflection of circulating biologically active PTH. If there is adequate renal function (serum creatinine concentration less than 2.0 mg/dl), a random UcAMP expressed as mumol/g creatinine and analyzed as a function of the serum calcium concentration completely separates patients with PTH and non-PTH-mediated hypercalcemia.     

Highly sensitive two-site immunoradiometric assay of parathyrin, and its clinical utility in evaluating patients with hypercalcemia

We have developed a highly sensitive, two-site immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) for human parathyrin (PTH) that is specific for the intact, secreted, biologically active 84-amino-acid peptide. This assay has several technical advantages: it does not detect even high concentrations of inactive carboxyl-terminal fragments, results are available within 24 h, and the detection limit for intact hormone is low (1 ng/L). The assay readily measures concentrations of PTH in all healthy subjects and distinguishes these values from low or undetectable PTH values observed in clinical situations in which PTH secretion is expected to be suppressed. We found complete separation of results from 37 patients with surgically proven hyperparathyroidism and those from 23 patients with hypercalcemia associated with malignancy, the latter having PTH values at or below the lower limits of normal for this assay. The sensitivity, specificity, and rapid turnaround time of this two-site IRMA should advance the laboratory evaluation of patients with disorders of calcium metabolism.     

血清S100BB蛋白水平与肺癌脑转移的相关性

目的 分析探讨血清S100BB蛋白在肺癌脑转移中的表达情况及其临床意义.方法 用ELISA法测定43例肺癌脑转移患者(脑转移瘤1 cm以下组12例,1～2 cm组9例,2 cm以上组17例,5例未知脑转移瘤大小)、44例肺癌患者、45例肺炎患者及44名健康人血清S100BB蛋白水平,并分析血清S100BB蛋白与肺癌脑转移的相关性.结果 肺癌脑转移组血清S100BB蛋白水平为42.28(38.56～121.70)ng/L,显著高于肺癌组的34.09(27.38～43.89)ng/L、肺炎组的31.11(26.79～37.15)ng/L和健康对照组的30.97(7.27～35.84)ng/L,组间比较,差异均有统计学意义(U值分别为422.5、325.5和237.5,P均<0.01).血清S100BB诊断肺癌脑转的ROC曲线AUC为0.828,当以37.15 ng/L为临界值时,其敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值和准确性分别为83.7%(36/43)、74.4%(99/133)、51.4%(36/70)、93.4%(99/106)、76.7%(135/176).肺癌脑转移组、肺癌组、肺炎组和健康对照组中S100BB蛋白阳性率分别为83.7%(36/43)、36.4%(16/44)、24.4%(11/45)、15.9%(7/44),肺癌脑转移组S100BB的阳性率显著高于肺癌组、肺炎组和健康对照组(X~2=50.705,P<0.01).肺癌脑转移肿瘤1 cm以下组、1～2 cm组和2 cm以上组的S100BB蛋白水平分别为47.87(39.63～131.68)ng/L、45.28(40.02～126.70)ng/L和38.79(34.86～58.23)ng/L,3组间差异均无统计学意义(U值分别为50.5、65.0和56.0,P均>0.05).结论 血清S100BB蛋白水平可以作为肺癌脑转移发生的辅助诊断指标,但肺癌脑转移瘤大小可能与S100BB蛋白水平无关.     

Evaluation of a radioimmunoassay for estradiol in unextracted serum

We describe the performance of a commercial (Steranti/EIR) RIA reagent kit for measuring 17 beta-estradiol directly in serum. Day-to-day precision data for control sera were as follows: mean = 102.8 ng/L, CV = 6.8%, n = 20; mean = 231.1 ng/L, CV = 5.3%, n = 21; mean = 747.7 ng/L, CV = 9.4%, n = 21. Analytical recovery of added estradiol from seven different serum pools from men, to which three different concentrations of estradiol had been added, was (mean +/- SD): 98.6 +/- 7.0% at 107.5 ng/L added; 98.8 +/- 4.7% at 322.5 ng/L added; 108.2 +/- 4.8% at 645 ng/L added. Overall recovery of estradiol in these experiments (mean +/- SD for 21 determinations) averaged 101.9 +/- 7.0%. Assay of 32 serum specimens from women by both the direct (y) and an extraction method (x) gave the following linear regression statistics: y = 1.12x - 1.3, r = 0.998, Sy/x = 30.2 ng/L, mean y = 438.2 ng/L, mean x = 391.4 ng/L. Hemoglobin, bilirubin, and moderate lipemia do not interfere. Sensitivity of the direct assay was 2.6 ng/L. Compared with the extraction assay, the direct estradiol assay has advantages of speed and simplicity.     

Influence of nutritional status on serum large N-truncated PTH, but not PTH(1-84) in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Serum level of parathyroid hormone (PTH), measured by second-generation intact PTH (I-PTH), is known to be associated with nutritional status in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We investigated whether PTH(7-84) and larger N-truncated PTH or PTH(1-84) might be affected by nutritional status in HD patients. METHODS: Serum PTH was determined in 170 male HD patients by either a Bio-intact PTH (Bio-PTH) or I-PTH assay. Lean body mass in the trunk region was measured as a nutritional marker by dual X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: The serum PTH(7-84) level was theoretically obtained from the difference between serum I-PTH and Bio-PTH because I-PTH assay cross-reacted with PTH(7-84) with the same degree as PTH(1-84), although N-truncated PTH fragment larger than PTH(7-84) might affect theoretical serum PTH(7-84) level, although slightly. Serum PTH(1-84) was directly obtained from the serum Bio-PTH value because of its exclusive reaction with PTH(1-84). Serum PTH(7-84) correlated significantly with nutritional markers such as body weight, albumin, protein catabolic rate (PCR), TACBUN, BUN, phosphate, and lean body mass in the trunk, whereas PTH(1-84) correlated only with phosphate. Multiple regression analysis revealed that PCR, body weight, and lean body mass in the trunk region are significant factors independently associated with PTH(7-84), but not with PTH(1-84). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that serum levels of PTH(7-84) and larger N-truncated PTH fragments, but not PTH(1-84), might be affected by the nutritional state in HD patients, which might explain the reported correlation of serum I-PTH levels with nutritional markers.     

Potential clinical utility of a new IRMA for parathyroid hormone in postmenopausal patients with primary hyperparathyroidism

BACKGROUND: A new commercially available (so-called second-generation) IRMA for parathyroid hormone (PTH) separately detects intact PTH and its N-truncated fragments; however, no studies have compared the first- and second-generation IRMAs for PTH in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) to assess their respective diagnostic accuracies. METHODS: We concomitantly investigated 39 postmenopausal patients with PHPT and a control group of 70 healthy postmenopausal women matched for age, renal function, and vitamin D status. In all individuals, PTH was measured with a classic IRMA (PTH-S; DiaSorin Inc.), which uses antibodies directed against epitopes 1-34 and 39-84, and a new method (Scantibodies Laboratory. Inc.), which uses antibodies against epitopes 1-4 and 39-84 (PTH-W) and epitopes 7-34 and 39-84 (PTH-T). We also assayed serum PTH in 10 PHPT patients every 24 h for 5 days after successful surgery. RESULTS: The different assays gave serum PTH values that were >2 SD higher than values for the control population in 59% (PTH-S), 77% (PTH-W), and 82% (PTH-T) of patients with PHPT. However, ROC curve analysis showed no significant differences among the three PTH assays, demonstrating overlapping diagnostic sensitivities. In PHPT patients, the correlation among the assays was highly significant (r = 0.91-0.92; P <0.001). The ratio PTH-W:PTH-T x 100 showed a gaussian distribution in both PHPT patients and controls, whose mean (SD) values [63.4 (13.3)% vs 64.5 (9.5)%, respectively] did not differ significantly. After parathyroidectomy, the mean percentages of variation in PTH detected with all of the assays were quite similar. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of the PTH-W:PTH-T ratio in patients and controls suggests that PHPT does not markedly influence the rate at which biologically inactive fragments are generated by central or peripheral cleavage of PTH. The similar postoperative curves seem to contradict the hypothesized effect of acute hypocalcemia in modulating the central secretion of hormonal fragments. Our results indicate that the three investigated assays have similar diagnostic sensitivities in PHPT.     

良性原发性甲状旁腺功能亢进症患者血清1,25-二羟基维生素D3水平变化

目的探讨良性原发性甲状旁腺功能亢进症(primary hyperparathyproidism,PHPT)患者血清1,25-二羟基维生素D3[1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3,1,25(OH)2D3]水平变化及与甲状旁腺激素(parathyroid hormone,PTH)、血钙、血磷的关系。方法良性PHPT患者56例为观察组,同期体检健康者1118例为对照组,采用电化学发光法检测2组血清1,25(OH)2D3、PTH水平,比色法测定血钙水平,磷钼酸盐法测定血磷水平。比较2组维生素D缺乏[1,25(OH)2D3<20μg/L]、严重缺乏[1,25(OH)2D3<10μg/L]的比率及不同年龄分层患者血清1,25(OH)2D3水平变化,Pearson法分析观察组维生素D缺乏、严重缺乏患者血清1,25(OH)2D3与PTH、血钙及血磷的相关性。结果观察组维生素D缺乏比率、严重缺乏比率(94.64%、46.43%)高于对照组(62.79%、14.13%)(P<0.05);Pearson相关分析显示,观察组血清1,25(OH)2D3与PTH、血钙及血磷均无线性相关性(r=-0.226,P=0.352;r=-0.274,P=0.256;r=0.073,P=0.593)。观察组年龄18~40岁、>40~60岁、>60岁患者血清1,25(OH)2D3[(10.76±3.17)、(10.61±5.01)、(10.72±4.85)μg/L]低于对照组[18~40岁:(18.19±9.86)μg/L,>40~60岁:(17.18±9.19)μg/L,>60岁:(17.91±10.52)μg/L](P<0.05);观察组维生素D缺乏患者血清PTH[(818.86±233.49)ng/L]、血钙[(2.98±0.59)mmol/L]、血磷[(0.78±0.17)mmol/L]与维生素D严重缺乏患者[(640.09±622.69)ng/L、(2.96±0.69)mmol/L、(0.75±0.20)mmol/L]比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);观察组维生素D缺乏、严重缺乏患者血清1,25(OH)2D3与PTH(r=-0.360,P=0.060;r=0.071,P=0.723)、血钙(r=-0.225,P=0.250;r=-0.228,P=0.252)、及血磷(r=0.239,P=0.221;r=-0.208,P=0.297)均无线性相关。结论良性PHPT患者血清1,25(OH)2D3低于正常人群,维生素D缺乏比率较高,且血清1,25(OH)2D3与PTH、血钙及.血磷无线性相关。