Cessation of bone loss in chronic renal failure by 1-alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3: a controlled trial

The study was undertaken in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF patients) in order to evaluate 1) the degree and course of skeletal demineralisation and 2) the effect on the bone mineral content (BMC) of long-term treatment with 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1alpha(OH)D3). BMC was measured on the radius by 241 Am-photonabsorptiometry and the results were corrected for age, sex and bone width. In a cross-sectional study BMC was measured in 191 normal subjects and in 88 renal patients. In a controlled longitudinal trial 22 CRF patients were treated for 25.6 months with 1alpha(OH)D3, while 22 CRF patients did not receive vitamin D supplements. In CRF patients an accelerated bone loss (approximately 3%/year) and a significantly reduced BMC (mean 87.2% of normal) was found. In the 1alpha(OH)D3 treated patients BMC increased on an average 0.9%/year. This was significantly different from the continued bone loss recorded in the non-treated control patients. The data indicate that 1) CRF patients develop reduced bone mass because of accelerated bone loss; 2) cessation of this bone loss may be achieved by long-term treatment with 1alpha(OH)D3.