Comparison of oral and intravenous alfacalcidol in chronic hemodialysis patients.
BACKGROUND
Activated vitamin D is the mainstay of treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in chronic hemodialysis patients. However, the optimal route of administration is still debated. The aim of our study was to compare efficacy of oral vs intravenous (IV) administration of alfacalcidol in hemodialysis. A secondary objective was to determine the cost-effectiveness advantage of oral administration.


METHODS
Eighty-eight chronic hemodialysis patients receiving IV alfacalcidol three times a week were included in the study. All were switched to the same dose of alfacalcidol given orally three times a week during the hemodialysis session. A budget impact analysis was performed.


RESULTS
Mean patient age was 64 years old and 43% were males. The mean alfacalcidol dose administered was 2.1 μg three times a week. After three months, serum parathormone (PTH) levels decreased from 80 to 59 pmol/L (p = 0.001) and total serum calcium levels increased from 2.34 to 2.40 mmol/L (p = 0.002). After six months, total serum calcium levels were still significantly higher. Alfacalcidol dosage was significantly decreased during study period; the mean reduction was 0.44 μg per dose. Finally, oral administration was associated with an annual cost reduction of 197 678$CAN and an annual nursing time reduction of 25 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support that switching IV to oral administration of alfacalcidol during hemodialysis sessions may lead to a similar control of SHPT with lower doses of activated vitamin D. This is a good strategy for optimizing compliance and may allow a dose reduction because of a greater efficacy to suppress PTH. Oral administration also has significant cost-effectiveness advantages.
Myriam
M
Lessard
Denis
D
Ouimet
Martine
M
Leblanc
Annie-Claire
AC
Nadeau-Fredette
Robert
R
Bell
Jean-Philippe
JP
Lafrance
Vincent
V
Pichette
Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, 5415 Boulevard de l'Assomption, Montréal H1T 2 M4, Québec, Canada. mvallee.hmr@ssss.gouv.qc.ca.
Michel
M
Vallée
D000284:Administration, Oral; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; C008088:alfacalcidol