Abstract
1α-OH-D3 (1α-D3) was given to 30 patients who had been dialysed chronically using the dialysate with a calcium concentration of 3.75mEq/l and whose serum calcium level was less than 8.5mg/dl. They were given 1α-D3 with the dose of 0.75μg/day in the morning for 18 weeks. During 18 weeks study period the following results were observed.
We defined the agent was effective if a patient's serum calcium concentration showed a greater increase than 0.5mg/dl at some time during 18 weeks study period. Under this definition the effectiveness rate was 66.7%. Eleven patients out of the 30 patients (36.7%) showed the abnormally high PTH value, however there were no difference in the effectiveness rate of 1α-D3 between the patients with abnormal PTH value and the patients with normal PTH value.
The following changes of the concentration of vitamine D3 metabolites were observed during the study period.
1) 25-OH-D3
The average control value before the beginning of the administration was 34.2±12.0ng/ml, which was within normal limits (10-55), and the value decreased significantly to 21.8±12.5 (p<0.05) in the 6th week of the study period. The value in the 12th week and in the 18th week was same as the value in the 6th week.
2) 1, 25 (OH)2-D3
The average control value before the study period was 28.9±11.7pg/ml, which was the lower limit of the normal range (27-43) and the value increased significantly to 40.5±10.0 in the 6th week. However in the 12th week the value decreased to 27.8±6.3, which was almost same as the prestudy control value in and the valve the 18th week was same as that of the 12th week.
3) 24, 25-(OH)3-D3
The average control value showed a pretty high value of 22.9±51.1ng/ml (normal range 1.8-3.8). The value decreased to 6.2±5.7 in the 6th week of the study period. However this value was not significantly different from the control value. The value was 2.3±2.8 in the 12th week and 1.1±1.0 in the 18th week of the study period respectively.
