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Monomeric calcitonin in pregnant women and in cord blood
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan.
Objective:
To determine whether monomeric calcitonin levels are increased during pregnancy.
Methods:
Monomeric calcitonin was measured by immunoradiometric assay in maternal blood during pregnancy (n = 50) as well as in paired maternal and umbilical venous and arterial blood (n = 18) collected at term deliveries.
Results:
Maternal monomeric calcitonin levels were not increased during pregnancy and puerperium compared with levels in nonpregnant women (power = .8). There was no significant difference between umbilical venous and arterial monomeric calcitonin levels (mean [+/- standard deviation] 18.56 +/- 8.37 versus 18.74 +/- 10.46 ng/L, respectively). Cord blood levels were much higher than were maternal blood levels (2.57 +/- 1.93 ng/L).
Conclusion:
Maternal monomeric calcitonin levels were not increased during pregnancy and puerperium compared to nonpregnant women, whereas cord blood levels were much higher than maternal blood levels.