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Hi @danielad, that is a question outside of my knowledge. I couldn't find much about low levels either.

However I found this information by Mayo Clinic Laboratories:
- Parathyroid Hormone-Related Peptide, Plasma https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/81774
As you noted, it is an elevated level of PTHrP that can indicate a need for further investigation for a malignancy.

Of particular note are the last two sentences
"Like all immunometric assays, PTHrP assays are susceptible to false-low results at extremely high analyte concentrations ("hooking") and to rare false-positive results due to heterophile antibody interference. Therefore, if test results are incongruent with the clinical picture, the laboratory should be contacted."

You said that this was the first time that your PTHrP was tested. Is it possible that is was a false low?

Hi @danielad, that is a question outside of my knowledge. I couldn't find much about low levels either.

However I found this information by Mayo Clinic Laboratories:
- Parathyroid Hormone-Related Peptide, Plasma https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/81774
As you noted, it is an elevated level of PTHrP that can indicate a need for further investigation for a malignancy.

Of particular note are the last two sentences
"Like all immunometric assays, PTHrP assays are susceptible to false-low results at extremely high analyte concentrations ("hooking") and to rare false-positive results due to heterophile antibody interference. Therefore, if test results are incongruent with the clinical picture, the laboratory should be contacted."

You said that this was the first time that your PTHrP was tested. Is it possible that is was a false low?

@colleenyoung -- Colleen, I wonder if there may be a "better suited" group for my question? I guess I could create one by establishing an "ENDOCRINOLOGY" group. It could be the "umbrella" group for a number of different endocrinology-based medical issues or questions?

Different question: The Nephrologist has ordered labs for Aug (2-months check-up) which do NOT include a repeat test for the PTHrP. I think I should ask him to add it. What are your thoughts on that?

Thanks!!
-- Dee

I agree, @danielad. You can post your questions to the Endocrine System group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/diabetes-and-endocrine-problems/

For my yearly wbs, I have to go off thyroid meds, and do low iodine diet for 4-8 weeks, my body has reacted to the Thyrogen injections so we go "old school". Does any one else experience severely low blood pressure with Thyrogen injections or going off thyroid medication? My blood pressure drops to 60/40 at best when I go off medication or when they gave me the injections, this year they put me on medication to bring up the pressures and that was better (70/60), wondering if others have a similar reaction? My doctor said she isn't sure why my body reacts that way but would like to hear others stories. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

@sophia07, I'm bumping this discussion back up to see if fellow members have experienced low blood pressure either as a reaction to Thyrogen injections or while off thyroid meds. That must be disconcerting to have to deal with for 4-8 weeks. What symptoms do you experience?

When I started the Thyrogen injections it was like having the flu, then after the second one I actually passed out, and they couldn't get a blood pressure and they would not let me get the 3rd or the radiation iodine treatment I was scheduled for. Said if my numbers change they will figure out how to get me the treatment. So this year when the wbs time came, they took me off the meds, blood pressure dropped very low, heart palpitations, very lethargic so spent a lot of time laying around and sleeping, very fatigued and had a hard time concentrating or keeping track of my thoughts. To bring up my blood pressure they did give me some medication and it came up to 70/60.