title: Elevated calcitonin gene-related peptide in polycythemic newborn infants.
abstract: In this study, calcitonin gene-related peptide levels were measured in cord and at 16-36 h of extrauterine life in 43 polycythemic newborns; 20 healthy term infants were also studied as controls. Calcitonin gene-related peptide values were significantly higher in polycythemic neonates in comparison with controls both at delivery and at 16-36 h after birth. Five polycythemic (11.6%) infants who develop hypocalcemia had greater elevated calcitonin gene-related peptide concentrations. Our data suggest that calcitonin gene-related peptide may be implicated in the circulatory adaptation to extrauterine life. In polycythemic neonates, calcitonin gene-related peptide is probably increased to compensate for blood hyperviscosity; in some cases, high calcitonin gene-related peptide concentrations may induce hypocalcemia.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Preventive Pediatrics, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saggese
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertelloni
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Baroncelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cipolloni
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide