[Several PTH assay and the problem]

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the most important molecule used as the indicator of a bone and mineral metabolism including renal insufficiency patients. With the elucidation of the PTH molecule, the measuring method of the serum PTH concentration has changed. The intact PTH assay has been carried out as most general PTH assay until recently, and it is measured with the some kits. It is proposed the several problems, as some kinds differ between these kits including with the sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, in the PTH molecule which exists in the human serum, many fragments existed besides 1-84 PTH. It became clear by the intact PTH assay to have measured 7-84 PTH simultaneously with 1-84 PTH. And then the measuring method which detects only 1-84 PTH was developed. But the report of clinical future with specific 1-84 PTH measurement is not enough as evidence. It is expected that clinical meaning with 1-84 PTH specific measurement will be examined moreover.