title: Combined hemodialysis-hemoperfusion in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism of uremic patients.
abstract: Hyperparathyroidism and its related symptoms such as bone pain, soft-tissue calcifications and pruritus often get worse during dialysis treatment. We have treated 12 cases among 170 patients on regular dialysis by using coated charcoal (150 g/cartridge) in combination with standard hemodialysis. During a 6-month treatment period, without changing medical therapy and diet regime, the patients reported a marked relief from pruritus. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels changed from 552 +/- 86 to 364 +/- 62 pg/ml (p less than 0.001) compared to the pretreatment period, Plasma PO4(3-) changed in the same period from 6.9 +/- 1.8 to 4.6 +/- 1.5 mg/dl (p less than 0.005). The results obtained indicate a relationship between PTH, serum plasma PO4(3-) levels and pruritus. The mechanism which may be involved is that hemoperfusion removes PTH excess by absorption. Our treatment reducing PTH levels resulted in a marked relief from pruritus and other symptoms, suggesting that patients in this condition, before undergoing surgical parathyroidectomy, may be usefully treated with this therapeutic modality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, Umberto I Hospital, Venice-Mestre, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morachiello
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fracasso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Righetto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scanferla
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toffoletto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Genchi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bazzato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006464:Hemoperfusion; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D015675:Osteocalcin; D002116:Calcitonin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium