title: Effect of intravenous calcitriol on platelet intracellular calcium in uremic hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate the effect of the reversal of hyperparathyroidism on platelet intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) by pharmacological parathyroidectomy with intravenous calcitriol in uremic patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (2 degrees HPT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum concentrations of intact parathyroid hormone (I-PTH) were measured by two-site immunometric assay, and platelet [Ca2+]i was assessed using the fluorescent indicator fura-2. Fifteen hemodialysis patients with 2 degrees HPT and serum I-PTH 4 times greater than the normal upper limits, were selected for treatment with intravenous calcitriol 1 microgram thrice weekly for one month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increase of serum I-PTH (449.17 +/- 52.35 vs 32.52 +/- 1.95 pg/ml) and elevated platelet [Ca2+]i (139.49 +/- 8.78 vs 74.70 +/- 6.48 nM/L) was observed in uremic patients with 2 degrees HPT. Serum I-PTH levels were significantly correlated with platelet [Ca2+]i in uremic patients with 2 degrees HPT (r = 0.736, p = 0.002). The serum I-PTH levels decreased from 449.17 +/- 52.35 to 221.27 +/- 35.66 pg/ml (p < 0.001) and platelet [Ca2+]i fell from 139.49 +/- 8.78 to 97.86 +/- 7.25 nM/L (p < 0.001) after treatment. Fall in platelet [Ca2+]i was related to concomitant reduction in PTH levels (r = 0.572, p = 0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that an increase in cytosolic calcium in uremia may be at least in part induced by PTH. Besides, intravenous calcitriol can provide an effective way to suppress elevated serum I-PTH and attenuate platelet free calcium in uremia with 2 degrees HPT.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Shieh
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chyr
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Diang
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Y A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium