Intestinal calcium binding protein in uremia

In order to assess the usefulness of intestinal biopsies as indicators of end-organ responsiveness to vitamin D in uremic patients, calcium binding activity and calcium binding protein (CaBP) content were measured in intestinal biopsies from 12 uremic patients (glomerular filtration rate less than 5.0 ml/min) and 12 adult controls. Values for both were found to vary with the site of biopsy, highest values being obtained in the duodenal bulb, with lower values distally. Values for activity correlated with values for CaBP content in both normals and uremics and no difference was observed between groups. Levels of calcium binding activity and content of CaBP did not correlate with serum immunoreactive parathormone levels, but were directly related to circulating 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD) levels. The data show that intestinal CaBP is normal in activity, quantity, and affinity for calcium in malabsorbing uremic patients, and are consistent with the hypothesis that calcium malabsorption in uremia is unrelated to deficiency of intestinal calcium binding protein.