Curative effects of 1alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol on calcium metabolism and bone disease in patients with chronic renal failure

Abstract

Synthetic 1alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol (1alpha-OH-D3) was given intravenously in a dose of 2.5-10 mug per day to three patients with chronic renal failure. As little as 10 mug of 1alpha-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 (greater than 200 mg in total) of vitamin D2 was markedly cured with 2.5 mug of 1alpha-OH-D3 given daily for 3 weeks. These clinical data hold promise that is certainly useful in the improvement of intestinal malabsorption of calcium and bone diseases in renal failure.