Serum Concentrations of Intact Parathyroid Hormone in Healthy Children

Abstract

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) plays an important role in calcium homeostasis by maintaining the concentration of ionized calcium within the precise limits necessary to achieve metabolic and neuroregulatory functions of this essential mineral (1)(2)(3). PTH produces calcium mobilization from the large skeletal stores into the extracellular fluid, increases absorption of dietary calcium, and decreases renal clearance of urinary calcium (3)(4). Serum PTH assays are an important aid in the assessment of calcium metabolism disorders. The aim of this study was to determine serum intact PTH in a large group of healthy children according to their ages. We selected 794 healthy children (409 girls, 385 boys), ages 2–16 years, arriving for routine clinical check-ups in the Department of Pediatrics over 4 years (1994–1998). Sample sera were taken at 0800 from non-fasting children. None of the subjects was receiving …