Effect of treatment with dihydrotachysterol on renal function in patients with chronic renal failure

16 patients with advanced renal failure and histologic evidence of renal osteodystrophy were treated with dihydrotachysterol (DHT) in a dose of 0.125-0.375 mg/day. All patients had creatinine clearances of less than 22 ml/min, but none were undergoing dialysis. The rate of deterioration in renal function was determined by serial measurements of the serum creatinine and by plotting the reciprocal of the serum creatinine against time. The duration of follow-up was 17.0 +/- 8.6 months. There was no significant deterioration in renal function in 12 patients. The remaining 4 patients showed acceleration in the rate of deterioration, but the relationship to DHT therapy was unclear.