Question about PTH

[del]

Hubby's PTH levels have been steadily increasing.  He started on 30 mg of sensipar and was increased to 60.  After about a year the levels started to rise again and he was increased to 90 mg.  That did nothing.  NOrmal levels are about 300 for a dialysis patient.  In February his was 1900!!  The sensipar was increased to 120mg and rocaltrol was increased from 0.25 to 0.50.  He had blood work done on Monday and the nurse called this morning with the results.  Everything was fine but the PTH test from March was 280!!  I sort of think it has to be a mistake. That is a huge jump in a month -don't you think?  We'll see what the results are from this month's test is when he gets the results in a few weeks.  I'm hoping it is gone down but it seems like a huge drop in a month.

[bleija]

he may have to have them removed. If they dnt respond to the sensipar, i dnt know what else the can give u for it, have you taken calcitriol or hecterol?

[MomoMcSleepy]

Hopefully comes done.  My other numbers are good, but PTH 197?  Was 191 in 2010, and the nurse told me that they're more concerned about it staying stable than being high, since my calcium and phosphorus are ok.  A doctor told me that when it gets high, it's like it's been on steroids and the parathyroid get all hyped up and keeps putting out big numbers even after calcium or vitamin D or whatever gets better.  I'm more curious than helpful, though, I am confused by how it works.

[Traveller1947]

Have the test redone.  It's the only way to know what's really going on.  120 mg. Is a lot of Sensipar, so depending on what else is going on,  his PTH level COULD have dropped that much, but first rule out lab error.

[del]

He gets it checked every month.  He had it checked this past Monday.  Takes about 3 weeks to get the results.

[boswife]

I del, i call 3 days after testing and have them fax all the results to me..  I dont know that they love it, but they do it.  Then, i catch things earlier than our next apt...

[amanda100wilson]

I am on 180 mg of sensipar.  I need to talk to my doc. about getting mine removed.  what happens, is that when they enlarge they go into overdrive and put out more PTH.  medication can suppress this to a point,but if they get too big, the medication cannot over-ride it.  if you think of it, if the gland is say,, five times the size, then it is in effect, putting out approx. five times the amount of a normal gland.

[del]

I call the day after the labs to get the results but The PTH can't be done at the hospital close to us.  It has to be sent to the city, that's why it takes so long to get the results from it

[del]

The results were correct!!!  Got the PTH results for April and it is 309!!!!  Hopefully it will stay there.  He is having it checked again on Monday.