Treatment of senile osteoporosis with 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3.
About 30% of patients with clinical osteoporosis had histological signs of osteomalacia, in spite of normal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD3). The excess osteoid disappeared during treatment with 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1alpha-OHD3). These patients might have reduced ability to convert 25-OHD3 to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3). The intestinal calcium absorption increased during treatment with 1alpha-OHD3, but this was accompanied by a rise in urinary calcium excretion. Photon absorptiometry of the forearm indicated increased bone mineral content during treatment with a daily dose of 2 microgram 1alpha-OHD3 and a supplement of 1 g of calcium. This therapeutic combination, however, caused frequent episodes of hypercalcaemia, so further studies are necessary to evaluate an appropriate dose of 1alpha-OHD3 with or without a calcium supplement.
D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007085:Ilium / Q000032:analysis; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011884:Radius / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000032:analysis
D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D002118:Calcium