Abstract
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is secreted from osteoclasts and several cancer cells, as well as from sensory nerve endings innervating blood vessels and bones. A potent vasodilator, CGRP powerfully counteracts hypertensive responses and protects organs from blood pressure-related damage, though it also can precipitate migraine attacks, bronchoconstriction and hypersensitive colon. Because plasma CGRP concentrations are very low, even in patients, it is thought that CGRP functions as local modulator rather than as a circulating hormone. Nevertheless, it is useful to measure plasma CGRP when evaluating the severity of target diseases (e.g., heart failure and sepsis) and when screening or following up patients with neuroendocrine tumors (e.g., medullary thyroid carcinoma). That said, one should understand the biochemical characteristics of CGRP prior to blood sampling, and should use highly sensitive assays that detect only the active form of the molecule.
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