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Paricalcitol in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism and its potential benefits.World Journal of Clinical Cases Nov 2021Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common complication in patients with end-stage renal disease and it is also common in hemodialysis patients. SHPT can increase... (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial
BACKGROUND
Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common complication in patients with end-stage renal disease and it is also common in hemodialysis patients. SHPT can increase bone fragility and calcification of blood vessels and soft tissues, which greatly increases the risk of death.
AIM
To discuss the outcome, safety and other potential benefits of paricalcitol injection in hemodialysis patients with SHPT.
METHODS
We recruited 40 patients who received hemodialysis at our hospital for chronic renal failure with SHPT between March and December 2019. They received paricalcitol injection for 24 wk (starting dose, 0.06-0.08 μg/kg), three times per week. They were followed up at the baseline (week 0), week 4, week 12 and week 24. The primary outcome indicator was the percentage of patients with a > 30% decrease in intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels at week 24 compared with the baseline. The secondary outcome indicators included percentage decrease in iPTH levels at week 24, standard-reaching rate of iPTH (percentage of patients with iPTH down to 130-585 pg/mL), changes in serum levels of calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), Ca × P product, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine (Cre), hemoglobin (Hb), and C-reactive protein (CRP), and incidence of adverse events (AEs).
RESULTS
After 24 wk of treatment, iPTH levels decreased significantly (598.88 ± 381.29 pg/mL 888.84 ± 376.88 pg/mL, < 0.05). More than 30% decrease of iPTH was found in 21 of 36 (58.33%) patients. The average decrease in iPTH levels was 32.16 ± 4.33%; the standard-reaching rate of iPTH levels was 66.67% (24/36); and ALP levels decreased significantly compared with the baseline (113.72 ± 41.73 IU/L 133.45 ± 56.86 IU/L) ( = 2.798, < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the serum levels of calcium, Hb, Cre and CRP compared with the baseline ( > 0.05). After 24 wk of treatment, serum P levels decreased compared with the baseline (1.91 ± 0.40 mmol/L 2.16 ± 0.66 mmol/L) ( = 2.830, < 0.05). Ca × P product decreased significantly compared with the baseline (56.38 ± 13.22 mg/dL 63.97 ± 20.30 mg/dL) ( = 2.717, < 0.05). No serious adverse events occurred.
CONCLUSION
Paricalcitol was a safe and effective treatment for hemodialysis patients with SHPT. It decreased serum levels of iPTH, ALP and P and maintained stability of serum Ca levels.
PubMed: 34904087
DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i33.10172 -
The Chinese Journal of Physiology 2023Acute cardiomyopathy is a significant global health concern and one of the leading causes of death in developed countries. Prior studies have shown an association...
Paricalcitol improved cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis through upregulation of fibroblast growth factor-23 and downregulation of transforming growth factor-beta in a rat model of isoproterenol-induced cardiomyopathy.
Acute cardiomyopathy is a significant global health concern and one of the leading causes of death in developed countries. Prior studies have shown an association between acute cardiomyopathy and low vitamin D levels. Although paricalcitol, a vitamin D receptor (VDR) activator, has demonstrated clinical benefits in patients with advanced kidney disease, its effect on cardiac remodeling in cardiomyopathy is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the relative effects of paricalcitol on cardiomyopathy in rats. Wistar-Kyoto rats were administered vehicle (sham control group) or isoproterenol to induce cardiomyopathy. Rats administered isoproterenol were subsequently treated with paricalcitol (experimental group) or vehicle (isoproterenol group). Picrosirius red and immunofluorescence staining were used to analyze cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to confirm the molecular mechanisms involved in isoproterenol-induced cardiomyopathy in rats. Injection of paricalcitol could reduce collagen and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) levels while activating fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) without the help of Klotho, thereby reducing myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis. As a VDR activator, paricalcitol reduces isoproterenol-induced cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy by reducing the expression of TGF-β1 and enhancing the expression of VDR, FGFR1, and FGF23.
Topics: Humans; Rats; Animals; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Up-Regulation; Isoproterenol; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Down-Regulation; Fibroblast Growth Factor-23; Rats, Inbred WKY; Cardiomyopathies; Cardiomegaly; Fibrosis; Transforming Growth Factors
PubMed: 37929341
DOI: 10.4103/cjop.CJOP-D-23-00048 -
Pathophysiology : the Official Journal... Nov 2023As the impacts of diabetes-induced reproductive damage are now evident in young people, we are now in urgent need to devise new ways to protect and enhance the...
Combination Therapy with Enalapril and Paricalcitol Ameliorates Streptozotocin Diabetes-Induced Testicular Dysfunction in Rats via Mitigation of Inflammation, Apoptosis, and Oxidative Stress.
BACKGROUND
As the impacts of diabetes-induced reproductive damage are now evident in young people, we are now in urgent need to devise new ways to protect and enhance the reproductive health of diabetic people. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of enalapril (an ACE inhibitor) and paricalcitol (a vitamin D analog), individually or in combination, on streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetes-induced testicular dysfunction in rats and to identify the possible mechanisms for this protection.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This study was carried out on 50 male Sprague-Dawley rats; 10 normal rats were allocated as a non-diabetic control group. A total of 40 rats developed diabetes after receiving a single dose of STZ; then, the diabetic rats were divided into four groups of equivalent numbers assigned as diabetic control, enalapril-treated, paricalcitol-treated, and combined enalapril-and-paricalcitol-treated groups. The effects of mono and combined therapy with paricalcitol and enalapril on testicular functions, sperm activity, glycemic state oxidative stress, and inflammatory parameters, as well as histopathological examinations, were assessed in comparison with the normal and diabetic control rats.
RESULTS
As a result of diabetes induction, epididymal sperm count, sperm motility, serum levels of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as well as luteinizing hormone (LH), and the antioxidant enzyme activities, were significantly decreased, while abnormal sperm (%), insulin resistance, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were significantly increased, along with severe distortion of the testicular structure. Interestingly, treatment with paricalcitol and enalapril, either alone or in combination, significantly improved the sperm parameters, increased antioxidant enzyme activities in addition to serum levels of testosterone, FSH, and LH, reduced insulin resistance, IL-6, and TNF-α levels, and finally ameliorated the diabetes-induced testicular oxidative stress and histopathological damage, with somewhat superior effect for paricalcitol monotherapy and combined therapy with both drugs compared to monotherapy with enalapril alone.
CONCLUSIONS
Monotherapy with paricalcitol and its combination therapy with enalapril has a somewhat superior effect in improving diabetes-induced testicular dysfunction (most probably as a result of their hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties) compared with monotherapy with enalapril alone in male rats, recommending a synergistic impact of both drugs.
PubMed: 38133142
DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology30040041 -
Drug Design, Development and Therapy 2019The elevated calcium and phosphorus levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis may increase the risk of all-cause mortality. Paricalcitol, as a new vitamin D receptor... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The elevated calcium and phosphorus levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis may increase the risk of all-cause mortality. Paricalcitol, as a new vitamin D receptor activator (VDRA), seemed to be effective in reducing the calcium and phosphorus levels.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of paricalcitol with other VDRAs in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science database were systematically reviewed.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Studies that focused on the use of paricalcitol for hemodialysis patients were eligible for inclusion.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two independent investigators performed the literature search, data extraction, and assessment of methodological quality. The outcomes were expressed with standard mean difference (SMD), HR, or risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI.
RESULTS
Thirteen studies involving 112,695 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Among these studies, four studies were cohort studies and nine studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). For cohort studies, they were regarded as being of high quality; for RCTs, only one was classified as being at low risk of bias; and the remaining eight studies were at being unclear risk of bias. Compared with other VDRAs, paricalcitol significantly improved the overall survival (HR =0.86, 95% CI: 0.80, 0.92; <0.001) and reduced the intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) (SMD =-0.53, 95% CI: -0.90, -0.17; =0.004). Paricalcitol offered similar effect with other VDRAs in the control of calcium (SMD =0.32, 95% CI: -0.04, 0.67; =0.078) and phosphorus (SMD =0.06, 95% CI: -0.26, 0.37; =0.727) levels. However, the serum change in calcium phosphate product was greater in the paricalcitol group than in the other VDRA group (SMD =2.13, 95% CI: 0.19, 4.07; =0.031). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups (RR =1.02, 95% CI: 0.93, 1.12; =0.674).
CONCLUSION
Paricalcitol was crucial in reducing the mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Moreover, both paricalcitol and other VDRAs were effective in control of the serum iPTH, calcium, and phosphorus levels. Given the potential limitations in this study, more prospective large-scale, well-conducted RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.
Topics: Cohort Studies; Ergocalciferols; Humans; Hyperparathyroidism; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Renal Dialysis
PubMed: 30992658
DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S176257 -
Kidney & Blood Pressure Research 2011Vascular calcification is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and contributes to the increased rate of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The... (Review)
Review
Vascular calcification is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and contributes to the increased rate of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms regulating vascular calcification are under investigation; it is accepted that vascular calcification is an active and complex process involving many factors that promote or inhibit calcification. Vascular smooth muscle cells undergo transformation into osteogenic cells. This transformation is being stimulated by high phosphate, and more recently the role of the calcium phosphate nanocrystals has gained attention. Experimental models of uremia and in vitro studies have shown that an excess of calcitriol accelerates vascular calcification. However, observational studies suggest that vitamin D provides a survival advantage for patients with CKD. Experimental work shows that for similar serum concentrations of calcium and phosphate paricalcitol produces less vascular calcification than calcitriol suggesting a differential effect at the cellular level. Important issues regarding the role of vitamin D compounds on vascular calcification will be commented in this review.
Topics: Calcium; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Vascular Calcification; Vitamin D
PubMed: 21691129
DOI: 10.1159/000326903 -
Kidney International Apr 2011Vitamin D compounds have been used successfully to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism for almost three decades. Side effects of increased levels of serum calcium and... (Review)
Review
Vitamin D compounds have been used successfully to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism for almost three decades. Side effects of increased levels of serum calcium and phosphate and potential complications have increasingly been recognized as problematic, and this has become an even more difficult clinical challenge with the desire to capitalize on some of the pleiotropic effects of vitamin D. Nonclassical nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR) effects on the cardiovascular system, kidneys, and immune system, with the prospect of improved patient survival, have moved to center stage. Selective vitamin D compounds with minimal effects on mineral metabolism and with maximal cardiovascular and renal benefits are now needed. New vitamin D compounds already in clinical use, which have an improved side-effect profile and differential nonclassical effects compared with calcitriol, are limited to the three licensed pharmaceuticals--paricalcitol, 22-oxacalcitriol, and doxercalciferol. Other compounds are under early development and it is anticipated that these novel therapeutic concepts will result in new vitamin D therapies that will help to reduce the high mortality rate patients with kidney disease experience.
Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Calcium; Cardiovascular Diseases; Drug Design; Humans; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary; Phosphates; Receptors, Calcitriol; Signal Transduction; Vitamin D
PubMed: 20962748
DOI: 10.1038/ki.2010.387 -
Nutrients Dec 2022Renal endothelial cell (EC) injury and microvascular dysfunction contribute to chronic kidney disease (CKD). In recent years, increasing evidence has suggested that EC...
Renal endothelial cell (EC) injury and microvascular dysfunction contribute to chronic kidney disease (CKD). In recent years, increasing evidence has suggested that EC undergoes an endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT), which might promote fibrosis. Adriamycin (ADR) induces glomerular endothelial dysfunction, which leads to progressive proteinuria in rodents. The activation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) plays a crucial role in endothelial function modulation, cell differentiation, and suppression of the expression of fibrotic markers by regulating the production of nitric oxide (NO) by activating the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) in the kidneys. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of paricalcitol treatment on renal endothelial toxicity in a model of CKD induced by ADR in rats and explore mechanisms involved in EC maintenance by eNOS/NO, angiopoietins (Angs)/endothelium cell-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (Tie-2, also known as TEK) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) axis. The results show that paricalcitol attenuated the renal damage ADR-induced with antiproteinuric effects, glomerular and tubular structure, and function protection. Furthermore, activation of the VDR promoted the maintenance of the function and structure of glomerular, cortical, and external medullary endothelial cells by regulating NO production. In addition, it suppressed the expression of the mesenchymal markers in renal tissue through attenuation of (transforming growth factor-beta) TGF-β1/Smad2/3-dependent and downregulated of Ang-2/Tie-2 axis. It regulated the VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway, which was ADR-deregulated. These effects were associated with lower AT1 expression and VDR recovery to renal tissue after paricalcitol treatment. Our results showed a protective role of paricalcitol in the renal microvasculature that could be used as a target for treating the beginning of CKD.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Doxorubicin; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Angiopoietins; Endothelial Cells; Signal Transduction; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
PubMed: 36558475
DOI: 10.3390/nu14245316 -
Annals of Palliative Medicine Jan 2022The aim of this retrospective observational study based on real-world data was to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of paricalcitol in Chinese hemodialysis (HD)... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
The aim of this retrospective observational study based on real-world data was to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of paricalcitol in Chinese hemodialysis (HD) patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in routine clinical practice.
METHODS
From the Better Life for Future database, a total of 668 Chinese hemodialysis patients from 104 dialysis centers between January 2015 and May 2019 were included in the analysis set. Intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), total serum calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), dosage of intravenous (IV) paricalcitol (Zemplar®) were analyzed and discussed via retrospective analysis of the database during the treatment.
RESULTS
Patients were divided into five groups according to the duration of follow-up. Median iPTH levels decreased from 1,183 pg/mL at baseline to 676 pg/mL at the final visit, or 30.88% (P<0.0001). A total of 56.14% of patients had a ≥30% decrease and 29.34% of patients had a ≥50% decrease in iPTH level. Serum Ca levels shown significantly increased in the group of Month 12-24 (P=0.0479). Serum phosphate levels remained stable in all follow-up groups. The average dose of paricalcitol was 20±9 µg/week. The total dose of paricalcitol and baseline iPTH were negatively correlated with the decrease in iPTH levels.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first national retrospective real-world observational study since intravenous paricalcitol is available in China since 2014. This study demonstrates the use of paricalcitol as an effective and well-tolerated treatment for the control of PTH during its use in routine practice.
Topics: Ergocalciferols; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Renal Dialysis; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 35144414
DOI: 10.21037/apm-21-3966 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2023To investigate the effects and mechanism of Vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling on arteriovenous fistula (AVF) endothelial cell injury. Venous tissues of AVF stenosis...
To investigate the effects and mechanism of Vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling on arteriovenous fistula (AVF) endothelial cell injury. Venous tissues of AVF stenosis patients were collected and analyzed, vascular morphology, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the expression of VDR, P66Shc, fibronectin (FN), collagen-1 (Col-1) were detected. In addition, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was used in in vitro studies. HUVECs was incubated with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β, 50 ng/ml). Aditionally, paricalcitol, VDR overexpression plasmid and Pin1 inhibitor Juglone were used to investigate the regulatory mechanism of VDR in mitochondrial ROS. The parameters of ROS (e.g. MitoSox) and the expression of FN, Col-1 were tested. Moreover, the mitochondrial translocation of P66Shc was analyzed. The expression of VDR was obviously decreased in the venous tissues of AVF stenosis patients. On the contrary, the expression of P66Shc, P-P66Shc, FN, Col-1 and 8-OHdG were increased significantly in the venous tissues of AVF stenosis patients (P < 0.05). In line with this, the level of mitochondrial ROS and the expression of P66Shc, P-P66Shc, FN, Col-1 increased obviously in HUVECs cells under TGF-β condition. Both VDR over-expression plasmid and Pin1 inhibitor Juglone could alleviate TGF-β induced endothelial injury. Mechanistically, VDR overexpression plasmid and Juglone could inhibit the expression of Pin1, and then restrain P66Shc mitochondrial translocation, eventually reduce the level of mitochondrial ROS. Our research indicated that activation of VDR could alleviate venous endothelial cell dysfunction through inhibiting Pin1-mediated mitochondrial translocation of P66Shc and consequently reducing mitochondrial ROS. It suggested that VDR signaling might be an effective target for AVF stenosis treatment.
Topics: Humans; Reactive Oxygen Species; Src Homology 2 Domain-Containing, Transforming Protein 1; Constriction, Pathologic; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Arteriovenous Fistula; Receptors, Calcitriol
PubMed: 37422508
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37510-5 -
Kidney Research and Clinical Practice Mar 2012Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) refers to a constellation of conditions whereby heart and kidney diseases are pathophysiologically connected. For clinical purposes, it would... (Review)
Review
Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) refers to a constellation of conditions whereby heart and kidney diseases are pathophysiologically connected. For clinical purposes, it would be more appropriate to emphasize the pathophysiological pathways to classify CRS into: (1) hemodynamic, (2) atherosclerotic, (3) uremic, (4) neurohumoral, (5) anemic-hematologic, (6) inflammatory-oxidative, (7) vitamin D receptor (VDR) and/or FGF23-, and (8) multifactorial CRS. In recent years, there have been a preponderance data indicating that vitamin D and VDR play an important role in the combination of renal and cardiac diseases. This review focuses on some important findings about VDR activation and its role in CRS, which exists frequently in chronic kidney disease patients and is a main cause of morbidity and mortality. Pathophysiological pathways related to suboptimal or defective VDR activation may play a role in causing or aggravating CRS. VDR activation using newer agents including vitamin D mimetics (such as paricalcitol and maxacalcitol) are promising agents, which may be related to their selectivity in activating VDR by means of attracting different post-D-complex cofactors. Some, but not all, studies have confirmed the survival advantages of D-mimetics as compared to non-selective VDR activators. Higher doses of D-mimetic per unit of parathyroid hormone (paricalcitol to parathyroid hormone ratio) is associated with greater survival, and the survival advantages of African American dialysis patients could be explained by higher doses of paricalcitol (>10 μg/week). More studies are needed to verify these data and to explore additional avenues for CRS management via modulating VDR pathway.
PubMed: 26889405
DOI: 10.1016/j.krcp.2011.12.006