title: Patterns in the parathyroid response to sodium bicarbonate infusion test in healthy volunteers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The sodium bicarbonate infusion test evaluates the function of the parathyroid glands. The present study aims to evaluate the range of parathyroid response in healthy individuals and the potential influence of various factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty healthy volunteers were subjected to the test. Levels of vitamin D, calcium, albumin, and PTH were measured before infusion. PTH was measured at 3, 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes after infusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A curve describing the response of parathyroids to the test was drawn. Twenty percent of the subjects had blunted PTH response. No significant difference was observed between normal and blunted responders concerning age, BMI, baseline PTH, or calcium levels. Nonetheless, there was a significant difference in vitamin D levels (P = 0.024).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The test is easy to perform and may be used for everyday screening. It has to be clarified whether our observations are, at least partly, produced due to the presence of individuals with a constitutively blunted response or if low levels of vitamin D decrease the ability of the parathyroids to respond. Whichever the case, PTH response of normal individuals to sodium bicarbonate infusion test is more varied than previously thought and vitamin D levels influence it.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54655 Macedonia, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodossis S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Papavramidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54655 Macedonia, Greece.
authors.forename: Olympia E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Anastasiou
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54655 Macedonia, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pliakos
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54655 Macedonia, Greece.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7740-4922
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Michalopoulos
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54655 Macedonia, Greece.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2379-0477
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polyzonis
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54655 Macedonia, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Triantafyllopoulou
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54655 Macedonia, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kokaraki
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Surgery, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54655 Macedonia, Greece.
authors.forename: Spiros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papavramidis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D002118:Calcium