RT Journal
T1 IS calcitriol [1,25(oh)2d3] harmful to renal function?
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 1979
FD October 26
VO 242
IS 17
SP 1875
OP 1876
DO 10.1001/jama.1979.03300170021019
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1979.03300170021019
AB IT HAS long been known that patients with advanced renal failure require large doses of vitamin D for the expression of its biological effects.1 The discovery by Fraser and Kodicek2 that the kidney is responsible for the production of the active metabolite of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D3, provided an explanation for the vitamin D-resistant state in patients with chronic uremia and implied that such patients have a deficiency of 1,25(OH)2D3. Indeed, Brumbaugh et al3 found that the blood levels of this metabolite in patients with chronic renal failure are low or undetectable.The successful chemical synthesis of calcitriol made this metabolite available for replacement therapy, and its clinical use has recently been approved for the treatment of patients receiving dialysis.Since a deficiency of 1,25(OH)2D3 is present in patients who have advanced renal failure but who as yet do