CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, PHOSPHORUS, AND PARATHYROID-HORMONE INTERRELATIONSHIPS IN PREGNANCY AND NEWBORN-INFANTS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (6) , 701-705
Abstract
The ability to measure directly human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) and Ca2+ is of fundamental importance in understanding their interrelation in pregnancy and the newborn. Both hPTH and Ca2+ progressively increase throughout pregnancy. Since Ca2+ is the direct determinant of hPTH levels, a different set point appears to be operative throughout pregnancy. The newborn infant has higher serum Ca2+ levels than its mother, and the infant''s plasma hPTH is suppressed to undetectable or low levels. Ca2+, total serum Ca, Mg and P are all significantly elevated in the serum of the infant compared to the serum of the mother at delivery. An active transport mechanism of all these minerals appears to be operative and lowers the maternal serum levels at the termination of labor in relation to serum levels in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

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