Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Calcitonin is the main MTC marker. However, it has limitations: rapid in vitro degradation, a concentration-dependent biphasic half-life, presence of different isoforms and high cost of a single trial. Other markers of MTC can be procalcitonin and ProGRP.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of marking the levels of procalcitonin and ProGRP in monitoring patients with MTC.

Material: The study was carried out in a group of 41 MTC patients (32 women and 9 men, aged 16–79), after the surgery, during the follow-up.

Methods: Marking the levels of procalcitonin and calcitonin in a test with pentagastrin and a single marking of levels of ProGRP have been carried out. The results have been compared.

Results: When elevated levels of calcitonin (basic and stimulated by pentagastrin) occurred, the levels of procalcitonin were also elevated. In 0 min. it ranged 0.11–3.19 ng/ml, average 2.27 ng/ml; in 3 or 5 min. ranged 0.13–15.74 ng/ml, average 7.45 ng/ml. None of the 33 patients with normal levels of calcitonin and after stimulation with pentagastrin had elevated levels of procalcitonin. Markings of the levels of ProGRP were within the reference range in cases with the normal levels of basic calcitonin and stimulated by pentagastrin. In 7 of 8 patients with elevated levels of basic and stimulated calcitonin, the levels of ProGRP were elevated and ranged 77–237 pg/ml, average 135.9 pg/ml. In one case levels of ProGRP were within a normal range – 17.06 pg/ml.

Conclusions: Procalcitonin can be useful for monitoring MTC patients – a full correlation with marking of calcitonin in our material. ProGRP can also be used as a marker for monitoring the disease course in MTC patients. According to our study the correlation with calcitonin marking is 87.5%. Markings of procalcitonin and ProGRP did not bring more information than calcitonin marking.