title: Converting to doxercalciferol capsules from intravenous paricalcitol or doxercalciferol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the 2 studies presented in this article was to determine the clinically appropriate dose of doxercalciferol capsules that is required to maintain similar intact parathyroid hormone control when converting from intravenous (IV) paricalcitol or doxercalciferol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both studies were multicenter, open-label, randomized designs comprising the following 3 periods: a screening period, a 5-week run-in period, and a 5-week treatment period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dialysis centers in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease receiving dialysis 3 times weekly for a minimum of 6 months and with recent intact parathyroid hormone measurements between 15.9 and 63.7 pmol/L (150 to 600 pg/mL) were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  After a 5-week fixed-dose IV paricalcitol or doxercalciferol run-in period, subjects were randomized to doxercalciferol capsules for the 5-week treatment period. Conversion factors for the paricalcitol study were 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 times the current paricalcitol dose. Conversion factors for the doxercalciferol study were 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 times the current doxercalciferol injection dose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The predicted conversion factor for paricalcitol injection to doxercalciferol capsules was 0.92, whereas the factor for doxercalciferol injection to doxercalciferol capsules was 1.49. No statistically significant changes in serum calcium and phosphorus levels were found in either study. The nature of adverse events was consistent with the administration of an active vitamin D therapy to patients with chronic kidney disease receiving dialysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The studies demonstrate patients on dialysis can be safely and effectively converted from IV paricalcitol or doxercalciferol to oral doxercalciferol.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206, USA. kants@ucmail.uc.edu
authors.forename: K Shashi
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kant
authors.forename: Alejandro R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Srinivas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hariachar
authors.forename: Marializa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernardo
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duggal
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Engstrand
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plone
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hertel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002214:Capsules; D004872:Ergocalciferols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D004872:Ergocalciferols; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010758:Phosphorus; C042533:1 alpha-hydroxyergocalciferol; C084656:paricalcitol; D002118:Calcium