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Purpose: The optimal vitamin D 3 therapy for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in chronic hemodialysis patients is still controversial. Recent studies suggest that uremia in end-stage renal disease is associated with enzymatic hepatic dysfunction altering 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D 3 . The goal of our study was to compare the efficacy of calcitriol, the fully hydroxylated active form of vitamin D 3 , to alfacalcidol which needs 25-hydroxylation to be effective, for the treatment of SHPT in chronic hemodialysis patients., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 45 chronic hemodialysis patients who were switched from oral alfacalcidol to oral calcitriol for the treatment of SHPT. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), serum calcium and serum phosphorus levels were compared pre- and post-conversion using paired Student's t tests., Results: The mean dose of active vitamin D 3 decreased from 3.50 mcg/week at baseline to 2.86 mcg (P < 0001) after the switch from alfacalcidol to calcitriol. PTH significantly decreased from 94.4 to 82.6 pmol/L (-11.8 pmol/L, P = 0.02). The mean corrected calcium increased from 2.17 to 2.25 mmol/L (+0.08 mmol/L, P < 0.001) without any clinically significant hypercalcemia, and phosphorus levels were stable. Results were similar in a subgroup of patients (n = 17) for whom the medication was administrated during the hemodialysis session, ensuring a complete compliance., Conclusions: According to our study, calcitriol in equal dosage is more effective than alfacalcidol in lowering serum PTH level in chronic hemodialysis patients. This suggests that calcitriol may be the optimal active vitamin D 3 for the treatment of SHPT in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Background: The therapeutic strategy for the reduction of fracture risk in osteoporosis should not only aim to increase bone strength, but should also improve muscle function and reduce falls without increasing the risk of significant side effects. Since 2008 a combination therapy of the antiresorptive active bisphosphonatealendronate and the pleiotropic active D-hormone-prodrug alfacalcidol is licensed in Germanyfor treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (Tevabone)., Methods: In the review the results of numerous preclinical and clinical studies are reported, showing the efficacy of the combination of alendronate plus alfacalcidol., Results: In preclinical trials with ovariectomized rats the combination has shown a significantly better effect on increased bone turnover in comparison with bisphosphonate monotherapy. Presumably the "oversuppression" of bone remodeling and the resulting risk of reduced microfracture healing, which is known to occur after long-term therapy with bisphosphonates, will be reduced by the combination. Clinical studies have shown better efficacy of the combination in the increase of bone density and reduction of fracture rate (vertebral and non-vertebral fractures). Less falls were reported compared to alendronate plus genuine vitamin D. The reduction of increased parathormone levels by the alendronate plus alfacalcidol combination compared to alendronate alone was proven to increase the responder rate of the alendronate therapy. The potential risks of alendronate-induced hypocalcemia as well as alfacalcidol-induced hypercalcemia or hypercalcuria are reduced due to the contrasting mode of action of both compounds., Conclusion: Treatment with the alendronate plus alfacalcidol combination meets the demands of an optimized therapy for osteoporosis.With the especially developed, self-explanatory combination package better compliance and less dispensing mistakes can be expected.

We report the case of a female patient in whom gluten-induced entheropathy was revealed at the age of 71 yr by resistance to treatment with levothyroxine (L-T4), calcium carbonate and alfacalcidol. Hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism were the consequence of a total thyroidectomy performed at the age of 65 yr for a large multinodular goiter. Six months after thyroid ablation the patient started to complain of abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss. Following, anemia and osteopenia were documented. A progressive increase of replacement therapy for hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism was necessary. The clinical presentation suggested a malabsorption syndrome: celiac disease (CD) was diagnosed by serological markers and duodenal biopsy. Following gluten-free diet a normalization of clinical and serological findings was observed, bone mass density improved and a reduction of L-T4, calcium and vitamin D requirements was observed.

A 1-year prospective, open, randomized, controlled trial was conducted as a pilot study to examine the effect of intermittent administration of 200 IU intranasal salmon calcitonin and 1alpha(OH) vitamin D3 [1alpha(OH)D3] on bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and hip as well as on the markers of bone metabolism in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. A total of 102 randomly recruited women received either 200 IU intranasal salmon calcitonin (Miacalcic nasal 200, Novartis, Basel, Switzerland) daily, 1 month on-1 month off, 0.25 mug 1alpha(OH)D3, and 500 mg elemental calcium continuously (n=57 women) or only 0.25 mug 1alpha(OH)D3 and 500 mg calcium (n=45 women) for a period of 1 year. BMD of the lumbar spine and hip plus biochemical markers reflecting calcium (Ca) metabolism and bone turnover [serum Ca, serum phosphorus, intact parathormone (iPTH), total and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin levels, 24-h urinary Ca, morning fasting urinary Ca/creatinine, and Pyrilinks-D/creatinine ratio] were measured at the beginning of the study before treatment and after 6 and 12 months of treatment. Baseline characteristics of participants, including age, body mass index, lumbar and hip BMD, and biochemical markers were similar between the two groups. A total of 91 patients completed the study (50 in the salmon calcitonin nasal spray group and 41 in the other group). Lumbar BMD increased significantly in the salmon calcitonin group from baseline (3.0%, p=0.005) and in comparison to the non-calcitonin-treated group (p=0.009). The salmon calcitonin group also had a significant increase in femoral neck BMD compared with baseline values (3.1%, p=0.0005) and in comparison to the non-calcitonin-treated group (p=0.0005) in Ward's triangle BMD (2.9% from baseline values, p=0.009) and in comparison to the non-calcitonin-treated group (p=0.005) in trochanteric BMD (3.4% from baseline values, p=0.007) and in comparison to the non-calcitonin-treated group (P=0.01). Urinary Ca/creatinine and Pyrilinks-D/creatinine levels were significantly decreased from baseline in the salmon calcitonin-treated group (-6.1 and -6.3%, respectively, p=0.001). Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase levels were also significantly decreased from baseline in the salmon calcitonin-treated group (-3.6%, p=0.003). In the same group, a significant decrease in iPTH serum levels compared to baseline values (-2.5%, p=0.005) and in comparison to the non-calcitonin-treated group (p=0.005) was noted. In conclusion, in this pilot study, 1-year intermittent treatment with 200 IU intranasal salmon calcitonin and low doses of 1alpha(OH)D3 produced a significant effect on bone turnover and BMD in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Purpose: Classical and new therapies in anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas do not yield sufficient results. Agents able to redifferentiate neoplastic cells in vitro are known. We proposed alfacalcidol, a vitamin D analog able to bind to nuclear receptors regulating mitotic activity, in the treatment of malignant gliomas., Patients and Methods: Patients with glioblastomas and anaplastic astrocytomas were enrolled in a phase II trial involving surgery or biopsy, radiotherapy (64 Gy), chemotherapy with VM26-CCNU or fotemustine, and alfacalcidol at the daily dose of 0.04 microg/kg. MRI took place every 6 months., Results: Eleven patients were included and completed the study. The series involved 10 glioblastomas and 1 anaplastic astrocytoma. Three patients out of 11 patients (27%), 2 glioblastomas and 1 astrocytoma grade III, exhibited a particular response, consisting in the progressive regression of the radiological lesion, with a decrease of the gadolinium-enhanced area. Simultaneously, the patients showed a complete clinical remission, observed respectively for 7, 5 and 4 years. In the series of 10 patients with glioblastomas, 2 cases showed this response; after 4 years, 2 of 10 patients with glioblastomas (20%) were alive; the median survival time is 21 months. Normal or subnormal calcemia was observed, at the dose proposed, so that no interruption of the drug was necessary., Conclusions: Alfacalcidol, an in vitro agent of redifferentiation, is safe and seems able to induce in some patients, in synergy with classical surgery-radiotherapy-chemotherapy treatments, a particular progressive and durable regression of the tumor. The responders might represent about 20% of malignant gliomas.

Calcium/vitamin D supplementation is generally used as a first step treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP). The aim of this trial was to compare the efficacy of the D-hormone alfacalcidol with plain vitamin D in patients with established GIOP with or without vertebral fractures. Patients on long-term glucocorticoid-therapy were treated either with 1 microgram alfacalcidol plus 5000 mg calcium (group A: n = 43) or with 1000 IU vitamin D plus 500 mg calcium (group B: n = 42). The two groups were not different in respect to initial characteristics such as age, sex distribution, concomittant diseases, bone mineral density (mean T-score values at lumbar spine and femoral neck: -3.29 and -3.25 resp.), and in the number of prevalent vertebral and non-vertebral fractures. During the 3 years of treatment we found a significant increase in lumbar spine density in group A (+2.0%, p < 0.0001), while no significant changes could be documented in group B at both measuring sites. After 3 years 12 new vertebral fractures had occurred in 10 patients of group A and 21 in 17 patients in group B (ns). Correspondingly we registered a significant decrease of back pain only in group A (p < 0.0001). We conclude that alfacalcidol treatment in superior to plain vitamin D in GIOP.

The effect of alfacalcidol therapy on bone mineral density at the spine and proximal femur was evaluated in 112 transplant recipients (59 heart, 26 liver and 27 lung); 45 transplant cases served as controls (included in a randomised way in a placebo group) and in 42 rheumatoid arthritis cases. Liver and lung transplantation cases had before transplantation a lower bone density at the spine and femur compared to heart transplant cases. Heart transplant cases lost considerably more bone immediately after transplantation than liver and lung transplant recipients. A positive effect of 2 years alfacalcidol treatment (0.5-1 microgram/day) on bone loss was observed in all treated groups. Alfacalcidol was particularly effective against trabecular bone loss at the spine in rheumatoid arthritis patients and transplant recipients. There is a manifest difference in evolution between organ transplant groups and bone sites measured. Liver and lung transplant recipients respond better to therapy than cardiac recipients.

Besides localised osteopenia, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with or without corticosteroids develop in 30-50% osteoporosis induced by several factors and thus a higher risk of fractures. Bone loss appears very early and correlates directly with disease activity and also later with the negative effects of restrictive mobility. Corticosteroids reduce as a pathogenetic co-factor intestinal calcium absorption and increase renal calcium excretion resulting in compensatory increased PTH-release and increased sensitivity of bone to PTH. In addition, corticosteroids inhibit osteoblast function as well as the favourable effects of growth factors and sex hormones on bone. It has recently been recognised that the expression of D-hormone receptors (VDRs) is suppressed by these medications and that corticosteroids probably induce VDR disorders. The negative influence of corticosteroids on muscle strength (indirectly--via increased PTH-levels, lowered IGF-1-levels or reduced D-hormone activity) is a feature which has been underestimated. The demonstrated drop in 1,25(OH)2D3 (D-hormone) levels in patients with RA in correlation with C-reactive protein (CRP) is of significance in the pathogenesis of RA-induced osteoporosis and could further promote the process of inflammation. There is a general consensus that cytokines (e.g. IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-alpha) induce bone resorption in inflammatory rheumatic diseases. There are, however, new findings which show that cytokines like TNF-alpha also interfere with bone formation by promoting apoptosis of osteoblasts and reduce the muscle strength, too. D-hormone preparations (alfacalcidol, calcitriol) possess immunoregulatory effects in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting the cytokines IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha and particularly IL-12. At the cellular level, D-hormone reduces the expression of Th1 helper cells directly or indirectly by inhibition of IL-12 from monocytes. Therapy with alfacalcidol or calcitriol results in increased production of Th2 helper cells which produce bone protective cytokines like IL-4 and IL-10. It is important to know that D-hormone protects osteoblasts against TNF-alpha-induced cell death. After conversion to D-hormone in the liver and bone, alfacalcidol antagonises the above described pathogenetic factors of the corticosteroids. D-hormone is one of the body's own immunoregulators, which is produced in macrophages in cases of need to reduce immunological overreactions in a feed-back loop. Improved understanding of the pathogenesis of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis and of the pharmacological effects of alfacalcidol in this type of iatrogenic bone loss as well as the results of specific animal models simulating bone loss in inflammatory diseases explain the favourable effects of alfacalcidol in this indication. Various clinical studies have demonstrated clearly that alfacalcidol retards corticosteroid-induced bone loss in contrast to plain vitamin D. Due to its immunomodulating properties, alfacalcidol is particularly suitable for RA-induced bone loss and for the prevention of transplantation osteoporosis, and an adjuvant contribution to the disease-modifying therapy of RA and to the immunosuppressive therapy after transplantation can not be excluded.

Vitamin D analogues of high biological activity are probably useful in the treatment of renal osteodystrophy. The pharmacokinetics of the synthetic compound 5,6-trans-25-hydroxycholecalciferol have been studied in healthy subjects who were of normal vitamin D status. In comparison to natural 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol, serum levels of the analogue were lower and its half-life in blood after oral or intravenous administration was considerably shorter. In normal subjects no increase of dihydroxylated metabolites in serum was observed within seven days of an intravenous dose.