NORMALIZATION OF ENHANCED NEUTROPHIL CYTOSOLIC-FREE CALCIUM OF HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS BY 1,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D-3 OR CALCIUM-CHANNEL BLOCKER

Patients undergoing regular hemodialysis treatment display elevated in tracellular free calcium and impaired glucose uptake in polymorphonucl ear leukocytes (PMNLs) in the presence of enhanced serum parathyroid h ormone (PTH) levels. Normalization of intracellular calcium can be ach ieved by different therapeutic interventions acting by different mecha nisms. Effective oral 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 therapy (0.5-1.0 mu g/ day) normalizes PMNL cytosolic calcium via suppression of PTH levels. Hemodialysis patients treated orally with the calcium channel blocker nitrendipine (20-40 mg/day) normalizes calcium without affecting serum PTH levels. Both therapeutic interventions improved glucose uptake an d displayed no synergistic effect.