Changes in calciotrophic hormones and biochemical markers of bone turnover in normal human pregnancy

1994 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
pp. 369-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J Gallacher ◽  
William D Fraser ◽  
Owen J Owens ◽  
Frances J Dryburgh ◽  
Fraser C Logue ◽  
...  

Gallacher SJ, Fraser WD, Owens OJ, Dryburgh FJ, Logue FC, Jenkins A, Kennedy J, Boyle IT. Changes in calciotrophic hormones and biochemical markers of bone turnover in normal human pregnancy. Eur J Endocrinol 1994;131:369–74. ISSN 0804–4643 Plasma concentrations of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and albumin-adjusted calcium were measured along with nephrogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate (NcAMP) in 10 normal women longitudinally through pregnancy. In addition, an assessment of bone resorption was made in these same subjects by the measurement in true fasting urine specimens of the calcium/creatinine ratio (Ca/Cr), hydroxyproline/ creatinine ratio (HP/Cr), pyridinoline/creatinine ratio (Pyr/Cr) and deoxypyridinoline/creatinine ratio (Dpyr/Cr). The PTHrP level rose through pregnancy from (mean±sem) 0.8 ± 0.2 pmol/l in the first trimester to 2.7 ± 0.2 pmol/l 6 weeks postpartum (p < 0.0001). Serum alkaline phosphatase rose from 94 ± 8 U/l (first trimester) to 347 ± 25 U/l at term (p < 0.0001). A significant positive correlation was evident between PTHrP and alkaline phosphatase up to term (r = 0.44, p < 0.005). Parathyroid hormone concentrations remained unchanged during pregnancy but rose significantly postpartum from 1.8 ± 0.2 pmol/l (first trimester) to 3.1 ± 0.5 pmol/l (p < 0.0001). Similarly, osteocalcin, a marker of bone formative activity, remained unchanged through pregnancy but rose significantly at 6 weeks after delivery to 0.38 ± 0.05 nmol/l from 0.19 ± 0.03 nmol/l (first trimester) (p = 0.019). No significant change was noted in serum-adjusted calcium or NcAMP, either through pregnancy or at the postpartum assessment. Fasting urinary Ca/Cr fell through pregnancy from 0.70 ± 0.11 (first trimester) to a nadir of 0.19 ± 0.04 6 weeks postpartum (p = 0.007). Fasting urinary HP/Cr rose from 0.026 ± 0.003 (first trimester) to a peak of 0.049 ± 0.012 (third trimester), thereafter falling to 0.024 ± 0.002 6 weeks after delivery. Fasting urinary Pyr/Cr rose from 30.5 ± 1.7 (first trimester) to a peak of 58.3 ± 6.6 (term) (p = 0.009); Dpyr/Cr also increased through pregnancy from 9.9 ± 1.3 (first trimester) to 16.1 ± 1.7 (term) (p = 0.01). Previous studies have suggested that the placenta (during pregnancy) and breast milk (postpartum) are the main sources of PTHrP in pregnancy. This study illustrates that changes in plasma concentrations of PTHrP also can be demonstrated— although whether or not circulating PTHrP has a specific endocrine function is not clear. SJ Gallacher, University Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Building, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 10 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK

1997 ◽  
pp. 402-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
MS Ardawi ◽  
HA Nasrat ◽  
HS BA'Aqueel

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate calcium-regulating hormones and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) in normal human pregnancy and postpartum in women not deficient in vitamin D. DESIGN: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in pregnant Saudi women during the course of pregnancy (n = 40), at term and 6 weeks postpartum (n = 18). Maternal concentrations of serum calcidiol and calcitriol were determined, together with those of serum intact-parathyroid hormone (PTH), PTHrP, calcitonin, osteocalcin, human placental lactogen (hPL), prolactin, vitamin D binding protein, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphate and magnesium. A group of non-pregnant women (n = 280) were included for comparative purposes. RESULTS: The calcidiol concentrations decreased (mean +/- S.D.) significantly from 54 +/- 10 nmol/l in the first trimester to 33 +/- 8 nmol/l in the third trimester (P < 0.001) and remained decreased at term and postpartum (both P < 0.001). The calcitriol concentration increased through pregnancy, from 69 +/- 17 pmol/l in the first trimester to 333 +/- 83 pmol/l at term (P < 0.001). Intact-PTH concentrations increased from 1.31 +/- 0.25 pmol/l in the first trimester to 2.26 +/- 0.39 pmol/l in the second trimester, but then declined to values of the first trimester and increased significantly postpartum (4.02 +/- 0.36 pmol/l) (P < 0.001). PTHrP concentration increased through pregnancy from 0.81 +/- 0.12 pmol/l in the first trimester to 2.01 +/- 0.22 pmol/l at term and continued its increase postpartum (2.63 +/- 0.15 pmol/l) (P < 0.001). Significant positive correlations were evident between PTHrP and alkaline phosphatase up to term (r = 0.051, P < 0.001) and between PTHrP and calcitriol (r = 0.46, P < 0.001), osteocalcin (r = 0.23, P < 0.05) and prolactin (r = 0.41, P < 0.05) during pregnancy. Osteocalcin started to increase from 0.13 +/- 0.01 nmol/l in the second trimester, through pregnancy and postpartum (P < 0.001). Calcitonin was increased more than twofold by the second trimester compared with the first trimester (P < 0.001) and subsequently decreased (P < 0.001). Prolactin concentrations were significantly greater in the second (6724 +/- 1459 pmol/l) and third (8394 +/- 2086 pmol/l) trimesters compared with values before pregnancy (P < 0.001). hPL, increased throughout the course of pregnancy, reaching a maximum at term (7.61 +/- 2.57 microIU/ml). There was no direct correlation between serum calcitriol concentrations during pregnancy and serum prolactin (r = -0.12, P < 0.19) or serum hPL (r = 0.17, P < 0.21). Significant changes were observed in the serum concentrations of calcium and phosphate, but not in that of magnesium, during the course of pregnancy; calcium concentrations showed a maximal decrease at term. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in serum PTHrP during the course of pregnancy, at term and postpartum have been demonstrated, suggesting that the placenta (during pregnancy) and mammary glands (postpartum) are the main sources of PTHrP. No support for the concept of 'physiological hyperparathyroidism' of pregnancy could be demonstrated in the present work. The pregnancy-induced increase in calcitriol concentration may thus be the primary mediator of the changes in maternal calcium metabolism, but the involvement of other factors cannot be excluded.


2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (212) ◽  
pp. 754-758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bikram Khadka ◽  
Mohan Lal Tiwari ◽  
Ravi Gautam ◽  
Binod Timalsina ◽  
Nandu Prasad Pathak ◽  
...  

Introduction: Bone turnover leading to osteoporosis and poor quality of life is common during post-menopausal period. Study of bone turnover markers that contribute to non-invasive assessment of bone-metabolic disorders holds an important of research in low income country like Nepal.  Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted during the period of November 2016 to December 2017 among 354 women. Blood samples for calcium, inorganic phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and vitamin D were collected and analyzed using a validated and calibrated tools. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 20. Results: Mean±Standard deviation of age of post-menopausal women was significantly higher compared to pre-menopausal women (post-menopausal women, (57.98±8.08) vs. pre-menopausal, (31.35±5.83), (P<0.001). Selected biochemical markers of bone-turnover such as alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly higher with year since menopause (P<0.001), whereas serum calcium, and vitamin D were decreasing with year since menopause among post-menopausal women. In addition, calcium and vitamin D were significantly negatively correlated with year since menopause (P<0.01) while body mass index, inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were significantly positively correlated with year since menopause (P<0.01). Conclusions: Our study revealed that body mass index, inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase positively correlated with year since menopause while calcium and vitamin D were negatively correlated suggesting for a medical supervision of hormonal changes and periodic dosing of calcium and vitamin D among post-menopausal women to reduce the problem of bone health.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document