Oral paricalcitol.

black triangle An oral formulation of paricalcitol has been developed for the prevention and treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease.black triangle Paricalcitol is a synthetic vitamin D analog that binds to the vitamin D receptor inducing suppression of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion.black triangle Oral paricalcitol was significantly more effective than placebo in treating secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease. In a pooled analysis of three well designed, 24-week trials, two consecutive reductions from baseline in intact PTH levels of >/=30% were achieved by significantly more paricalcitol than placebo recipients (91% vs 13%).black triangle In addition, mean levels of the biochemical bone markers serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, serum osteocalcin, and urinary pyridinoline were reduced from baseline to a significantly greater extent with paricalcitol than with placebo, indicating a reduction in bone turnover.black triangle Oral paricalcitol was well tolerated; there was no significant difference between paricalcitol and placebo recipients in the incidence of hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, or elevated calcium-phosphorus product.