Calcifediol in chronic renal insufficiency. Skeletal response

Quantitative histology of thin, nondecalcified sections was performed on sequential bone biopsy specimens from five patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis and treated with calcifediol (25-hydroxycholecalciferol) for periods of three to nine months. With increase of intestinal absorption of calcium and decline of circulating immunoreactive parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase, the bones of each patient exhibited striking histological improvement. The group as a whole showed statistically significant decreases in osteoclast number and in the percentages of osteoid surface covered by active osteoblasts. Marrow fibrosis was either eliminated or strikingly decreased in each patient. Osteoid volume significantly declined in four of five patients. In patients with osteitis fibrosa as the predominant histological lesion, calcifediol therapy resulted in decreased calcification front activity. Increased activity was the result when osteomalacia predominated.