title: Paricalcitol versus calcitriol in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Management of secondary hyperparathyroidism has included the use of active vitamin D or vitamin D analogs for the suppression of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. Although, these agents are effective, therapy is frequently limited by hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and/or elevations in the calcium-phosphorus (Ca x P) product. In clinical studies, paricalcitol was shown to be effective at reducing PTH concentrations without causing significant hypercalcemia or hyperphosphatemia as compared to placebo. A comparative study was undertaken in order to determine whether paricalcitol provides a therapeutic advantage to calcitriol.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind, randomized, multicenter study comparing the safety and effectiveness of intravenous paricalcitol and calcitriol in suppressing PTH concentrations in hemodialysis patients was performed. A total of 263 randomized patients were enrolled at domestic and international sites. Following the baseline period, patients with serum Ca x P < 75, and a PTH level > or =300 pg/mL were randomly assigned to receive either paricalcitol or calcitriol in a dose-escalating fashion for up to 32 weeks. Dose adjustments were based on laboratory results for PTH, calcium, and Ca x P. The primary end point was the greater than 50% reduction in baseline PTH. Secondary end points were the occurrence of hypercalcemia and elevated Ca x P product.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Paricalcitol-treated patients achieved a > or =50% reduction from baseline PTH significantly faster than did the calcitriol-treated patients (P = 0.025) and achieved a mean reduction of PTH into a desired therapeutic range (100 to 300 pg/mL) at approximately week 18, whereas the calcitriol-treated patients, as a group, were unable to achieve this range. Moreover, paricalcitol-treated patients had significantly fewer sustained episodes of hypercalcemia and/or increased Ca x P product than calcitriol patients (P = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paricalcitol treatment reduced PTH concentrations more rapidly with fewer sustained episodes of hypercalcemia and increased Ca x P product than calcitriol therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology/Hypertension and Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Illinois 60201, USA. ssprague@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Stuart M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sprague
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Llach
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amdahl
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taccetta
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Batlle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004872:Ergocalciferols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists; D004872:Ergocalciferols; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; C084656:paricalcitol; D002117:Calcitriol