Plasma levels of parathyroid hormone (1-84) whole molecule and parathyroid hormone (7-84)-like fragments in pseudohypoparathyroidism type I

Full-length versus intact PTH concentrations in pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1 and primary hyperparathyroidism: clinical evaluation of immunoassays in individuals from China

PURPOSE

The application of the third-generation parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay [PTH(1-84) assay] for evaluating PTH levels in patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism type-1 (PHP1) is less popular than the second-generation assay. Therefore, we aimed at examining the conformity between the PTH(1-84) assay and the intact PTH (iPTH) assay, specifically examining their performance in individuals with PHP1 versus individuals with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), compared to healthy controls.

METHODS

PTH(1-84) and iPTH assay were performed in patients with PHP1, patients with PHPT, and healthy volunteers. ∆PTH%, PTH(1-84)/iPTH (3^rd/2^nd ratio), iPTH/upper limit of normal (ULN), and PTH (1-84)/ULN of each group were calculated for comparison. Linear regression, Kappa conformity test, and Bland-Altman analysis of ∆PTH/mean of iPTH and PTH(1-84) (percent bias) plotted against the mean of iPTH and PTH(1-84) were performed to determine the conformance of PTH(1-84) assay with iPTH assay.

RESULTS

A total of 54 patients with PHP1, 127 patients with PHPT, and 65 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. All the three groups showed strong linear relationship between iPTH and PTH (1-84) (r² = 0.9661, 0.7733, and 0.9575, respectively). No significant differences were noted in 3^rd/2^nd ratio (median 0.76 vs. 0.72) between the PHP1 and PHPT groups (p > 0.05). Conformity examination showed the Kappa value was 0.778 and 0.395 for PHP1 and PHPT groups respectively. No difference in the Kappa values was found between PHP1A and PHP1B subgroups. Bland-Altman plot demonstrated that the proportion of data points that were plotted within mean ± 1.96 SD in PHP1, PHPT and normal control groups were 96.3%, 93.7%, and 98.5%, respectively. The mean percent bias of the three groups were 26.1%, 31.2%, and 17.0%, respectively. The range of mean ± 1.96 SD of percent bias of the three groups were 2.2%-50.0%, -14.3%-76.6%, and 6.7%-27.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Although iPTH and PTH(1-84) values were both lower in the present PHP1 cohort than in the PHPT cohort, there appear to be differences in the relative agreement between both immunoassays, and in the relationship between the two values, especially in comparison to healthy controls. Whether these differences are due to differential accumulation of C-terminal fragments or other factors requires further study.

The administration of an active vitamin D(3) analogue reduced the serum concentrations of 1-84 and truncated parathyroid hormone in pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib patients

Serum calcium is one of major regulators of PTH amino-terminal (N-terminal) truncation and secretion of full-length (1-84)PTH from parathyroid glands. However, the effect of active vitamin D(3) on PTH truncations remains controversial. To determine whether active vitamin D(3) accelerates the truncation of PTH, the vitamin D(3) analogue alfacalcidol was administered to patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (PHP Ib). Both the (1-84)PTH molecule and N-terminally truncated fragments such as (7-84)PTH can be measured by commercially available two-site total PTH (T-PTH) assays. The development of whole PTH (W-PTH) assays specific for full-length (1-84)PTH has enabled us to distinguish between N-terminally truncated PTH and full-length (1-84)PTH. W-PTH/T-PTH ratios were calculated and used as an index of PTH N-terminal truncations. Both serum W-PTH and T-PTH levels were elevated in untreated PHP Ib patients. The administration of alfacalcidol reduced both the W-PTH and T-PTH levels; however, the W-PTH/T-PTH ratios were stable. Serum calcium levels were significantly and negatively correlated with both the W-PTH and T-PTH levels, but not with the W-PTH/T-PTH ratios. Thus, the administration of an active vitamin D(3) analogue did not seem to have a major effect on the rate of PTH N-terminal truncation, even though it did reduce the secretion of both full-length and truncated PTH. Possibly, active vitamin D(3) attenuates the effect of elevated calcium on PTH N-terminal truncation in PHP Ib patients.

Direct comparison between two 1-84PTH assays in dialysis patients

BACKGROUND/AIM

Today, two kinds of 1-84PTH assays are available in clinical practice. Few studies have directly compared the results of these assays in the same plasma.

METHODS

Plasma samples were collected from 235 dialysis patients and analyzed by the 1-84PTH-IRMA, intact PTH-IRMA, 1-84PTH-CLIA, and intact PTH-CLIA assays simultaneously.

RESULTS

The results obtained by the 1-84PTH-IRMA and 1-84PTH-CLIA were highly correlated to each other (r(2) = 0.971, p < 0.0001). In 90.2-92.3% of patients, the assays agreed when classifying them into three categories based on the K/DOQI guidelines. However, the 1-84PTH assays agreed in only 41.3-83.4% of patients when classifying them into two categories by calculating 1-84PTH/(intact PTH - 1-84PTH).

CONCLUSION

The results obtained by the two assays could be regarded as comparable in clinical practice. However, the 1-84PTH/(intact PTH-1-84PTH) ratio has to be carefully applied since it amplified the error of these assays.

Overproduction and Secretion of a Novel Amino-Terminal Form of Parathyroid Hormone from a Severe Type of Parathyroid Hyperplasia in Uremia

Measurement of bioactive parathyroid hormone (PTH) is essential for optimal management of bone abnormalities in dialysis patients. This can be accomplished by PTH measurements using third-generation PTH assays, which detect more or less of the first six amino acids of the PTH structure. Such assays do not detect non-(1-84) PTH fragments, such as human PTH (7-84), which are recognized by the second-generation PTH assays that use a detection antibody that recognizes an epitope within the 13-34 region of the PTH structure. Therefore, third-generation PTH results are expected to be lower than those that are obtained with second-generation PTH assays. Rare exceptions to this rule have been reported for patients with severe primary hyperparathyroidism or parathyroid cancer. Sera and gland extracts were analyzed from a dialysis patient with high bone turnover disease and with surprising higher PTH levels by a third-generation assay than by a second-generation assay. This finding normalized after the surgical removal of an enlarged gland with a single nodule, an advanced type of nodular hyperplasia. HPLC fractionation of sera and gland extracts revealed the overproduction and secretion of a PTH molecule with an intact amino-terminus structure distinct from (1-84) PTH. This form of PTH was readily detectable by third-generation PTH assays but was poorly reactive in second-generation PTH assays. Therefore, parathyroid glands with advanced uremic nodular hyperplasia may overproduce and secrete a novel, biologically active form of PTH with an intact 1-6 region but a presumably modified 12-18 region required for the detection in second-generation PTH assays.

Serum Levels of 1–84 and 7–84 Parathyroid Hormone in Predialysis Patients with Chronic Renal Failure Measured by the Intact and Bio-PTH Assay

BACKGROUND

The intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay detects both PTH(1-84) and the PTH(7-84)-like fragment, which is reported to be an antagonist of the biological action of PTH(1-84). It is debatable which of the two assays is clinically more useful, the intact or bio-PTH assay, the latter of which only detects PTH(1-84). It is also unknown whether serum levels of the PTH(7-84)-like fragment have clinical significance.

METHODS

Serum PTH concentrations in 104 predialysis patients with chronic renal failure (CRF; serum creatinine 3.53 +/- 1.93; 62 males and 42 females; 61.0 +/- 11.5 years old) were measured using both the intact and bio-PTH assays, and the concentration of the PTH(7-84)-like fragment was calculated by subtracting bio-PTH from intact PTH. Three bone formation and three bone resorption markers were measured simultaneously.

RESULTS

The PTH values measured using the two assays were strongly positively correlated (r = 0.959, p < 0.0001), and were also significantly positively correlated with the three bone formation and three bone resorption markers to a similar degree. The PTH(7-84)-like fragment was significantly positively correlated with both the intact and bio-PTH (r = 0.855, p < 0.0001 for intact PTH; r = 0.672, p < 0.0001 for bio-PTH), and was also significantly positively correlated with each of the six bone metabolism markers. There is no significant relationship between the bio-PTH/PTH(7-84)-like fragment ratio and clinical parameters including bone metabolic markers.

CONCLUSION

From the strong relationship between the two assays, and the similar degree of the relationship between each PTH assay and each of the six bone metabolism markers, it is considered that the bio-PTH and intact PTH assays have similar clinical significance in predialysis CRF patients. Serum levels of the PTH(7-84)-like fragment seem to increase as serum PTH(1-84) increases. The results suggest that the serum PTH(7-84)-like fragment has little specific clinical effect on bone metabolism, even when assessed by the ratio of bio-PTH/PTH(7-84)-like fragment.

Technical and clinical characterization of the Bio-PTH (1-84) immunochemiluminometric assay and comparison with a second-generation assay for parathyroid hormone

BACKGROUND

The Bio-Intact parathyroid hormone (1-84) assay (Bio-PTH), a newly developed two-site immunochemiluminometric assay, measures exclusively PTH (1-84) in contrast to second-generation "intact PTH" (I-PTH) assays. We investigated the technical performance and clinical significance of this new assay.

METHODS

PTH was measured simultaneously by the Bio-PTH assay and Allegro intact PTH IRMA in sera from Japanese patients with calcium disorders.

RESULTS

Measured Bio-PTH in serum was unaffected by six freeze-thaw cycles and was stable at 4 degrees C for 7 days and during storage at -20 or -80 degrees C over 28 days. The calibration curve was linear to 1800 ng/L. The detection limit was 3.9 ng/L. The intra- and interassay imprecision was <2.8% and 3.5%, respectively, for analyte concentrations spanning the range of the calibration curve. Bio-PTH was unaffected by a 1000-fold excess of PTH (7-84), although I-PTH reacted equally with PTH (7-84) and PTH (1-84). Bio-PTH was correlated with I-PTH in healthy individuals (r = 0.953; P <0.0001; n = 26) and in the full population without renal dysfunction (r = 0.994; P <0.0001; n = 62). In 72 volunteers, mean (SD) Bio-PTH was 22.2 (7.1) ng/L, or 62% of the mean I-PTH [36.1 (22.3) ng/L]. This ratio was 51% in hemodialysis patients (n = 177). Mean Bio-PTH was high in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism [121 (85) ng/L; n = 18] and hemodialysis patients [102 (104) ng/L; n = 177], low in idiopathic hypoparathyroidism [5.5 (2.8) ng/L; n = 4], and within 2 SD of the mean for healthy controls in Paget disease of the bone [34 (15) ng/L; n = 9] and bone metastasis [24 (12) ng/L; n = 8].

CONCLUSION

The Bio-PTH assay is sensitive and precise and produces expected results for patients with the studied disorders of calcium metabolism.