Prof. Mannstandt of Boston spoke on the subject of diagnosis of hypoparathy-
roidism using specific diagnostic kits for determining levels of parathyroid hor-
mone in the blood. The
difficulties encountered by
diagnosis are due to the
presence, in the blood, of
inactive fragments of PTH
that assay out together
with functionally active
parathyroid hormone. In other words, the con-
centration of circulating PTH is not always in-
dicative of the real active fraction of the hor-
mone. Which organs are the major secreters of
circulating PTH fragments? Since 1963, three
diagnostic tests for assaying circulating PTH lev-
els have been produced; in order of time, they
are based on the RIA technique, on synthesis of
an immuno-PTH (iPTH), and on synthesis of a
“whole” or “biointact” immuno-PTH.
Fondazione
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Michael Mannstadt
Boston - USA
Is diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism always a linear process?
How reliable are these tests? - - - What do they really measure? - - - What is the
role of the third-generation iPTHs and what are the major differences with respect
to the second generation?