CURATIVE EFFECTS OF 1α-HYDROXYCHOLECALCI-FEROL ON CALCIUM METABOLISM AND BONE DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE

Abstract

Synthetic 1α-hydroxycholecalciferol (lα-OH-D₃) was given intravenously in a dose of 2.5-10μg per day to three patients with chronic renal failure. As little as 10μg of lα-OH-D₃ daily for a week improved intestinal calcium absorption to a normal level, raised serum calcium, and reduced serum alkaline phosphatase. Severe rickets which had not responded to large amounts (>200mg in total) of vitamin D₂ was markedly cured with 2.5μg of lα-OH-D₃ given daily for 3 weeks. These clinical data hold promise that lα-OH-D₃ is certainly useful in the improvement of intestinal malabsorption of calcium and bone diseases in renal failure.