Calcitonin is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland. It is formed in the parafollicular cells of this organ. By chemical nature, the hormone calcitonin is a polypeptide. It consists of 32 amino acids.
What is the function of calcitonin?
He takes part in the exchange of phosphorus and calcium in the body. Calcitonin of the thyroid gland lowers the content of these chemical elements in the blood by increasing their uptake by the cells of the skeletal system.
Also, this substance regulates the reproduction of osteoblasts and their activity.
In medicine, the hormone calcitonin serves as a tumor marker. Cancer is recognized by its amount in the blood.
This substance is an antagonist to parathyroid hormone, which is also produced by the thyroid gland.
Calcitonin (hormone) norm in women and men
It can increase during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Also, the hormone calcitonin can be detected in the blood above normal with a lack of calcium in the body. If the amount of this substance in the blood significantly exceeds the norm, this indicates the presence of cancer.
Calcitonin (hormone) - norm:
- for women - 0.07-12.97 pg/ml;
- for men - 0.68-32.26 pg/ml;
- in children - 0.07-70 pg/ml;
- in newborns - 70-150 pg/ml.
The above are the norms for enzyme immunoassay. Chemiluminescent immunoassay may also be performed.
Calcitonin (hormone) - the norm for immunochemiluminescent analysis:
- men - up to 2.46 pmol/l;
- women - up to 1.46 pmol/L.
Above normal
If the hormone calcitonin is slightly elevated, this may indicate a lack of calcium in the body, as well as some diseases of the skeletal system.
If its level in the blood is very high (more than 100 pg/ml), then with a high probability it can be argued that a person has cancer of the thyroid gland, kidney, breast, liver or stomach.
Also, the hormone calcitonin can be found in the blood in high amounts in acute pancreatitis, anemia, C-cell hyperplasia of the thyroid gland, Paget's disease, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, with increased production of parathyroid hormone by the thyroid gland).
A slight increase in the hormone can also be observed in chronic inflammatory diseases, kidney failure, and pregnancy.
Below normal
Decreased calcitonin is a rare occurrence. This fact may indicate excessive physical exertion.
Indications for analysis
When some diseases are suspected, doctors examine the amount of calcitonin in the patient's blood. An analysis for this hormone is prescribed in the following cases:
- if thyroid cancer is suspected;
- to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical removal of the tumor;
- for subsequent monitoring of the patient's condition in the treatment of cancer;
- when diagnosing disorders of calcium metabolism in the body.
How to prepare?
It is very important to properly prepare for the analysis, otherwise the results may be inaccurate, which will affect the diagnosis. So, when taking blood for the level of calcitonin in the blood, the following rules must be observed:
- a few days before the analysis, it is necessary to abandon physical activity;
- during the day before blood donation, you can not drink alcohol;
- no smoking one hour before the test;
- blood for research is given only in the morning;
- tested on an empty stomach;
- half an hour before donating blood for examination, the patient must be at rest.
Calcitonin as a medicine
Sometimes this hormone may need to be given in the form of tablets, injections and intranasal spray.
| Indications | This drug is prescribed when the human skeletal system is weakened. These are such cases: osteoporosis after menopause, osteopenia, osteolysis,Paget's disease, Zudek's disease, algodystrophy. Also, calcitonin is prescribed with an excess of vitamin D in the body, with excessive production of parathyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. |
| Contraindications | The hormone calcitonin is prohibited for use by patients who have an individual intolerance to synthetic calcitonin or other components that are part of the tablets. |
| Side effects |
Allergic reactions may occur, which are characterized by symptoms such as redness and swelling at the injection site, disorders of the digestive system, rash. In severe cases of allergy, anaphylactic shock can develop, which is accompanied by tachycardia and a decrease in blood pressure. When taking calcitonin in the form of tablets, the following side effects may occur: dizziness, headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, decreased performance, cough, visual disturbances, pharyngitis, myalgia. When using calcitonin nasal spray, the following side effects may occur: swelling of the nasal mucosa, itching, sneezing, dry mucous membranes, sinusitis, nose bleeding. If side effects occur, treatment with the drug should be discontinued. |
A skin allergy test is usually done before calcitonin is administered. If redness and swelling appear on the area of \u200b\u200bthe skin where the hormone was applied, the drug cannot be used, as the patient will immediately develop an allergic reaction. In this case, skintest for another kind of calcitonin.
Calcitonin, which is used as a medicine, can be of various nature. It can be a salmon, pig or recombinant human hormone. The first has the maximum biological activity. Therefore, it is used most often. It happens that the human body does not tolerate only one type of calcitonin. In this case, you should carefully study the composition of the drug and warn your doctor about the characteristics of your body.
In no case should you take the drug without consulting a doctor, since an allergic test must be carried out before prescribing medications containing calcitonin. Uncontrolled use of the drug can cause a number of side effects, as well as hormonal failure and metabolic disorders.
