The calcium-parathyroid hormone regulation in chronic renal failure investigation of its dynamic secretion pattern.

In patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) caused by chronic renal failure (CRF), the pulsatility of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion and the relation of PTH to plasma Ca2+ concentrations were investigated. Intermittent hyper- and hypocalcemia was induced to study the deterministic reaction of the parathyroid glands. Compared to normal behaviour in CRF the pulsatility is lost. Yet the deterministic coupling between PTH and Ca2+ concentrations remains qualitatively the same though quantitatively it is exaggerated and varies depending on the subjects.