PARATHYROID HORMONE IN THE BLOOD OF PREGNANT WOMEN 1

Abstract

By a test previously described (Hamilton, B., and Schwartz, C., J. Pharmacol. and Exp. Therap., 46: 285, 1932; Hamilton, B., and Highman, W. J. Jr., J. Clin. Invest. 15: 99, 1936) the amounts of parathyroid hormone present in the blood were estimated in 30 normal, 74 pregnant and 11 lactat-ing women. During the first 15 weeks of pregnancy the tests were normal (16 cases). In women pregnant 15-24 weeks, the tests were normal in 11, high in 17. In the period 25-34 weeks, the tests were normal in 6, high in 11 cases. In women pregnant more than 34 weeks, the tests were normal in 10, high in 3, and, finally, in lactat-ing women (6-8 weeks), the tests were normal in 10 and high in 1. The average values in each of the above 4 periods of pregnancy gave a curve rising from normal to a maximum in the period 25-34 weeks and then again falling to normal. The test was also made at intervals on a pregnant dog and gave a curve of the same general outline, with a decrease to normal just before delivery.