title: Parathyroid hormone-related protein in healthy pregnant women.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertelloni
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Baroncelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelletti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Battini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saggese
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; C470121:PTHLH protein, human; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D011506:Proteins; D002118:Calcium