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Serum calcitonin concentrations in premature infants during the first 12 weeks of life
Insights
Premature infants show elevated serum calcitonin levels for 12 weeks. The cause of this sustained calcitonin elevation in very small, sick premature infants remains unclear.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Premature infants often experience physiological challenges.
- Calcitonin plays a role in calcium homeostasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum calcitonin levels in premature infants.
- To determine the duration of calcitonin elevation in this population.
Main Methods:
- Repeated serum calcitonin measurements were taken.
- Measurements were performed over the first 12 weeks of life.
- Serum calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels were also monitored.
Main Results:
- Serum calcitonin concentrations were elevated in premature infants.
- Calcitonin levels gradually decreased but remained high at 12 weeks.
- Serum calcium and phosphorus were normal to low; magnesium was normal.
Conclusions:
- Sustained elevation of serum calcitonin is observed in premature infants.
- The underlying cause for this prolonged elevation is currently unknown.
- Further research is needed to understand the significance of these findings.
Abstract:
Twenty-eight premature infants of mean gestation 30.9 +/- 2.5 weeks and mean birth weight 1175 +/- 206 g had repeated serum calcitonin concentrations determined over the first 12 weeks of life. Serum calcitonin concentrations slowly fell but remained elevated even at 12 weeks of age [normal adult = 71 +/- 48, 1 week (N = 15) = 327 +/- 167, 3 week (N = 23) = 270 +/- 129, 6 week (N = 16) = 249 +/- 154, 9 week (N = 13) = 214 +/- 108, 12 week (N = 12) = 174 +/- 11]. Throughout this period, serum total calcium was normal or low (8.4 +/- .8-9.3 +/- 1.0). Serum phosphorus was normal or low (6.0 +/- 1.4-6.5 +/- 1.0), and serum magnesium was normal (1.7 +/- 0.24-1.8 +/- 0.34). The reason for the sustained elevation of serum calcitonin in these very small, sick, premature infants in unclear.