title: Is high-dose cholecalciferol justified in children with chronic kidney disease who failed low-dose maintenance therapy?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to investigate the effect of single, high-dose intramuscular cholecalciferol on vitamin D3 and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2012 and June 2012, we conducted a prospective, uncontrolled study at the Pediatric Nephrology Unit of King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, to investigate the effect of single, high-dose intramuscular vitamin D3 on 25(OH)D3 and iPTH levels in vitamin D insufficient/deficient children with CKD. Serum vitamin D3, iPTH, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and creatinine levels were measured before intramuscular vitamin D3 (300,000 IU) administration, and these were subsequently repeated at 1 and 3 months after treatment. Statistical analysis was performed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen children fulfilled the criteria. At 3 months after treatment, vitamin D3 levels were significantly higher than at baseline (p < 0.001) but lower than the levels at 1 month. iPTH levels decreased significantly at 3 months (p = 0.01); however, the drop in iPTH levels was not significant at 1 month (p = 0.447). There were no changes in calcium, phosphate, ALP, or creatinine levels after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single-dose intramuscular vitamin D3 (300,000 IU) resulted in significant improvement of vitamin D3 and iPTH levels in children with CKD.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80215, Jeddah 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. jkari@doctors.org.uk
authors: Jameela Abdulaziz
authors: JA
authors: Kari
authors: Osama T
authors: OT
authors: Baghdadi
authors: Sherif
authors: S
authors: El-Desoky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D003404:Creatinine