Abstract
Although CT is stress responsive the role of CT in pathogenesis of early neonatal HC is unknown. We studied the thesis that CT, gastrin, glucagon 1) are higher in cord than mother; 2) rise postnatally; 3) correlate inversely with gestation; 4) are higher in birth asphyxia; and 5) elevated CT results in HC; 6) gastrin and glucagon are CT secretagogues. We studied 64 mother-infant pairs, gestation 25-42 wks, Apgar 1' 6.2±2.7, 5' 7.6± 2.2. Cord Ca, Mg, P (mg/dl), CT, gastrin and glucagon (pg/ml) were mostly higher than maternal, 10.15±(SEM) 0.18 vs 8.8±0.16 (p< 0.005); 1.95±0.06 vs 1.8±0.06 (p<0.05); 5.8±0.25 vs 3.4±0.13 (p<.005); 81±17 vs 49±11 (p<0.05); 133±20 vs 123±15 (n.s.); 120±9 vs 78±7 pg/ml (p<0.005) respectively. In neonates at 24 h CT, gastrin and glucagon rose to 254±29 (p< 0.005); 172±28 (n.s.); 216±17 pg/ml (p<0.005). Serum Ca fell to 8.7±0.2, 8.7±0.3 mg/dl at 24, 48 h, (p<0.005). Term cord CT correlated with 1' Apgar, r=-0.4 (p<0.05), at 5', r=-0.8 (p< 0.0001). 24 h serum CT correlated with 24 h serum Ca, r=−0.7 (p<0.0003) and 48 h Ca r=-0.93 (p< 0.0003). Cord CT was higher <32 wks vs term 146±45 vs 61±18 pg/ml (p<0.05) and higher with Apgar <6 vs >7 at 1' and 5', 118± 37 vs 56±18 and 266±72 vs 49±9 pg/ml resp (p<0.05). Neither serum gastrin nor glucagon correlated with CT. Thus, 1) cord CT and glucagon are elevated; 2) CT and glucagon rise postnatally; 3) cord CT is higher in preterm and asphyxia; 4) high serum CT correlates with low serum Ca. We speculate that elevated serum CT may result in HC in preterm and birth asphyxiated infants.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Venkataraman, P., Tsang, R., Chen, I. et al. ELEVATED CALCITONIN (CT) IN BIRTH ASPHYXIA AND PREMATURITY: ROLE IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF EARLY NEONATAL HYPOCALCEMIA (HC). Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 352 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01554
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01554