Effect of 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on intestine and bone in glucocorticoid-treated patients.
The effect of 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1alpha-OHD3) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) on the intestinal calcium absorption was studied in twenty patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with prednisone at daily doses of 5--15 mg for 1/2--20 years. The fractional calcium absorption, measured before and after the treatment with the vitamin D compounds, increased in nineteen of the twenty patients. This was, however, accompanied by marked rises in the urinary calcium excretion. There was no correlation between the fractional calcium absorption and the duration of the prednisone treatment or the doses given.
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004100:Dihydroxycholecalciferols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004100:Dihydroxycholecalciferols; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D010758:Phosphorus; D002118:Calcium; D011241:Prednisone