title: Total serum calcium reference intervals in postmenopausal outpatients.
abstract: The distribution of values of serum calcium has been studied in the following four outpatient populations: premenopausal (n = 411) and postmenopausal women (n = 399), men less than 50 years old (n = 365) and men over 55 years old (n = 361). Their respective average total serum calcium values (mg/dl) were 9.42, 9.56, 9.53, and 9.45. The reference intervals derived for total serum calcium (mg/dl) were 8.4-10.3 (premenopausal women), 8.4-10.7 (postmenopausal women), 8.6-10.5 (men less than 50 years old), and 8.4-10.4 (men over 55 years old). Increased total serum calcium levels were observed in the postmenopausal women as compared with both premenopausal women (p < 0.001) and with men over 55 years old (p < 0.003). Eight percent of the values obtained in postmenopausal women were above the current reference interval, as compared to 1.7% in premenopausal women, and 3.3% in men over 55 years old. In conclusion, the age-related increase in total serum calcium in postmenopausal female outpatients warrants a higher upper limit of the reference interval for this subpopulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass. 02115, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tanasijevic
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ginsburg
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Wybenga
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Winkelman
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium