Serum calcitonin in patients with chronic renal disease.

The relationship between serum calcitonin, calcium-phosphorus metabolism and renal function was studied in 66 patients with chronic renal disease. Serum calcitonin was significantly elevated both in non-dialysed patients and in patients on chronic hemodialysis. In the non-dialysed patient group a highly significant inverse correlation was found between serum calcitonin and creatinine clearance. Between serum concentrations of calcitonin and phosphorus a significant positive correlation was found. In the dialysed patients a significant inverse correlation was found between serum calcium and serum calcitonin. It is concluded that the elevated serum calcitonin in patients with chronic renal disease might be explained by a reduced renal degradation of calcitonin and/or an increased production due to stimulation by serum phosphorus.