Interpretation of Parathyroid Hormone Levels in Renal Impairment

Distinguishing between acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in an emergency setting may pose a conundrum for physicians, especially when a patient’s medical history and records are unknown. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) has proved valuable as a marker of CKD and is frequently assayed for this reason. The use of PTH as a sole marker of CKD may be misleading in certain conditions, and for this reason, physicians need to interpret PTH values with caution. In patients with no existing medical records, it is vital to consider their overall clinical picture, an accurate interpretation of urinalysis and urine microscopy, and the PTH values when making the initial management decisions.