title: PTH--a particularly tricky hormone: why measure it at all in kidney patients?
abstract: Plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations are commonly measured in the context of CKD, as PTH concentration elevation is typical in this clinical context. Much has been inferred from this raised PTH concentration tendency, both about the state of skeletal integrity and health and also about the potential clinical outcomes for patients. However, we feel that reliance on PTH concentrations alone is a dangerous substitute for the search for, and use of, more precise and reliable biomarkers. In this article, we rehearse these arguments, bringing together patient-level and analytical considerations for the first time.
authors.affiliation: East Kent Hospitals University, NHS Foundation Trust, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sardiwal
authors.forename: Edmund J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: David J A
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
mesh_terms: D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone