CALCITRIOL AND CALCIUM-CARBONATE THERAPY IN EARLY CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combined low-do se therapy of calcitriol and calcium carbonate on bone metabolism in t he early phases of chronic renal failure. A 30-month study involving 1 7 patients with ECRF was made: 6 months of observation were followed b y 24 months of therapy (calcitriol 0.25 mu g/day plus calcium carbonat e 1 g/day). The most important results were that renal function was st able throughout the study and there was an increase in calcaemia and a decrease in plasma alkaline phosphatase, plasma osteocalcin, plasma P TH and urinary hydroxyproline. We observed a progressive slowing of th e rate of loss of appendicular bone density as well as a decrease of o steoblastic and osteoclastic activity and an improvement of bone miner alization. In conclusion, low doses of calcitriol plus calcium carbona te seem to improve the biochemical and bone derangements in early rena l failure.