Serum procalcitonin and calcitonin normal values before and after calcium gluconate infusion.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and compare serum procalcitonin (PCT) and calcitonin (hCT) levels before and after stimulation with intravenous calcium gluconate in selected thyroid healthy subjects.


METHODS
There were enrolled 78 healthy blood donors with no history of thyroid disease, renal disease, neuroendocrine tumours, infections or inflammatory diseases, and taking no proton-pump inhibitors medication. Serum PCT and hCT were measured before and after intravenous injection of 2.5 mg/kg calcium gluconate.


RESULTS
Undetectable basal PCT values were found in all subjects while a marginal increase occurred only in 2 male subjects after stimulation. The basal and stimulated 95th percentile hCT values were 7.80 pg/mL and 102 pg/mL in males and 5.20 pg/mL and 78.5 pg/mL in females, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that calcium gluconate physiologically stimulate the release of mature hCT molecule from the parafollicular C-cells with no or minimal effects on the PCT release. Our preliminary results form a reliable reference platform for basal and calcium-stimulated PCT measurements in clinical studies.
Department of Nuclear Medicine and Thyroid Centre, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland. luca.giovanella@eoc.ch
L
L
Giovanella
D000328:Adult; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000592:standards; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002125:Calcium Gluconate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003940:Diagnostic Techniques, Endocrine / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002125:Calcium Gluconate