[Therapy with vitamin D and D-metabolites]

Elucidation of the vitamin D endocrine system and the availability of potent metabolites have led to new approaches to vitamin D therapy. The traditional management of exogenous (sunlight) or endogenous (malabsorption) vitamin D deficiency without evidence of disordered vitamin D metabolism has not changed, since it consists of treatment with vitamin D itself--a therapy which preserves the normal intrinsic mechanisms for regulating the rate of production of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. 1,25-DHCC and the analogue compound 1 alpha-CC should be reserved for treatment of hypocalcemia consequent on chronic renal failure or hypoparathyroidism, where 1-hydroxylation is lacking or impaired. Hypophosphatemic rickets has been treated with 1-hydroxylated compounds, with promising results; this use of the latter metabolites warrants further investigation. The use of vitamin D metabolites and of pharmacological doses of vitamin D itself must be regarded as substitution of a hormone or hormone precursors. Therefore, careful monitoring of serum and urine calcium is required in every patient receiving these compounds, in order to avoid excessive dosage. Special attention must be paid to patients with sarcoidosis since they often develop hypercalcemia after vitamin D or UV-light exposure, as a result of an intrinsic regulation defect in 1,25-DHCC synthesis.