title: Variable response to long-term 1alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol in haemodialysis osteodystrophy.
abstract: Ten uraemic patients on regular haemodialysis were treated with 1alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol (1alpha-H.C.C.) for 5 to 14 months. Five patients who had histological osteitis fibrosa with or without osteomalacia responded well, with resolution of musculoskeletal pain, return of raised serum-alkaline-phosphatase concentrations to normal, resolution of radiological subperiosteal erosions, and improvement in histological signs of osteitis fibrosa and osteomalacia. In these patients 1alpha-H.C.C. proved a safe and effective drug. Five other patients did not improve. Characteristically these patients started with moderately severe histological osteomalacia and minimal, if any, osteitis fibrosa. Proximal myopathy was a prominent symptom and serum-alkaline-phosphatase was normal in four of them. Treatment with 1alpha-H.C.C. resulted in early troublesome hypercalcaemia, and repeat bone histology 5--11 months later showed no improvement. It is suggested that in these patients lack of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol may not have been wholly responsible for the observed osteomalacia, hence 1alpha-H.C.C. alone was ineffective. Phosphate depeltion may have been an important contributing factor.
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007085:Ilium / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010002:Osteitis Fibrosa Cystica / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D010018:Osteomalacia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010710:Phosphates / Q000172:deficiency; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014511:Uremia / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010710:Phosphates; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium