Drug Insight: vitamin D analogs in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic kidney disease

Secondary hyperparathyroidism commonly develops in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in response to high phosphate, low calcium and low 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 (calcitriol) levels. High levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) accelerate bone turnover, with efflux of calcium and phosphate that can lead to vascular calcification. Treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism with calcitriol and calcium-based phosphate binders can produce hypercalcemia and oversuppression of PTH, which results in adynamic bone that cannot buffer calcium and phosphate levels, and increased risk of vascular calcification. PTH levels must, therefore, be reduced to within a range that supports normal bone turnover and minimizes ectopic calcification. Vitamin D analogs that inhibit PTH gene transcription and parathyroid hyperplasia ( and have reduced calcemic activity) are a safer treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism than calcitriol; these agents enhance the survival of patients with CKD. Several such analogs are now in use, and analogs with even greater selectivity than those currently used are in development. Parathyroid glands express both 25-hydroxylase and 1 alpha-hydroxylase, which suggests that these enzymes might suppress parathyroid function by an autocrine mechanism. The risk of hypercalcemia with vitamin D analog therapy is reduced by the introduction of non-calcium-based phosphate binders and cinacalcet; furthermore, recent trials indicate that early intervention with vitamin D analogs in stage 3 and 4 CKD can correct PTH levels, and could prevent renal bone disease and prolong patient survival.