title: Comparison of intermittent and continuous oral administration of calcitriol in dialysis patients: a randomized prospective trial.
abstract: Intermittent bolus administration of calcitriol--i.e., 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol or 1,25-(OH)2D3--is highly efficacious in dialysis patients. In experimental studies, intermittent administration of calcitriol is superior to continuous administration in suppressing preproparathyroid hormone (PTH) mRNA and circulating PTH concentrations. In a randomized, prospective, open multicenter trial 45 dialysis patients with elevated 1,84-iPTH (> or = 20 pmol/l, normal 1-6 pmol/l) levels were randomly allocated to daily administration of 0.75 microgram calcitriol (continuous) or twice weekly administration (intermittent); the two protocols provided an identical total weekly doses of 5.25 micrograms calcitriol. Patients were dialyzed with a dialysate Ca concentration of 1.75 mmol/l and had oral CaCO3 or Ca acetate. 1,84-iPTH (immunoradiometric assay) and serum Ca and Pi levels were measured weekly. At the beginning of the study, the median 1,84-iPTH value was 37 pmol/l (range 20-115) in the intermittent versus 36 pmol/l (range 21-72) in the continuous calcitriol group. After 2 weeks, the median 1,84-iPTH level was 18.5 pmol/l (range 1.4-106) versus 18 pmol/l (range 1.2-48). After 12 weeks, 11 of 21 of the patients in the intermittent and 18 of 24 patients in the continuous group had reached the treatment goal, i.e., 1,84-iPTH < or = 10 pmol/l without hypercalcemia or hyperphosphatemia. There were seven episodes of hypercalcemia (> 2.7 mmol/l) in the intermittent versus two in the continuous group; the mean peak Ca level was 2.8 mmol/l (range 2.76-3.0) versus 2.9 mmol/l (range 2.74-3.06). There were 21 versus 17 episodes, respectively, of hyperphosphatemia (> 2.2 mmol/l).
authors.affiliation: Kuratorium für Heimdialyse, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, BRD.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ritz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Gayk
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geyer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nonnast-Daniel
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hörl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haas-Wörle
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010710:Phosphates; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002117:Calcitriol