Management of secondary hyperparathyroidism in uremic patients: the role of the new vitamin D analogs.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism - a common comorbid condition in patients with chronic renal insufficiency - is considered a consequence of critical determinants such as hypocalcemia, phosphate retention and reduced levels of calcitriol production. In this complex mechanism, the skeletal apparatus and the nonskeletal targets such as vascular and heart valves are often involved, thus explaining the increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of uremic patients. In this review we will focus on the major role played by Calcitriol deficiency as a trigger of secondary hyperparathyroidism and the crucial need for obiquitous vitamin D receptor activation in order to have an optimal PTH control and to obtain a modulation between inhibitors and inducers of soft tissue calcification. This review will also elucidate the possible role of paricalcitol - a new vitamin D analog - in conditioning morbidity and mortality of patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT).

Prevalence and severity of anaemia in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy and different degrees of chronic renal insufficiency.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the single most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however its real impact on renal anaemia has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether onset, severity, and prevalence of anaemia during the course of CKD is different between type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic patients. METHODS: We enrolled 281 patients with: (1) type 2 diabetes and no CKD (n = 75); (2) type 2 diabetes plus CKD (n = 106), and (3) CKD without type 2 diabetes (n = 100). According to K/DOQI guidelines, the patients with renal insufficiency (i.e., those with a glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min) were subgrouped into three tertiles of CKD: (1) stage 3 (creatinine clearance 60-30 ml/min); (2) stage 4 (creatinine clearance 29-15 ml/min), and (3) stage 5 (creatinine clearance <15 ml/min). RESULTS: Anaemia was observed in 16% of the diabetic patients without CKD; it was more frequent in the diabetic patients with CKD than in the non-diabetic patients with CKD (61.7 vs. 52%, p < 0.05). The comparison among the tertiles showed that the prevalence of anaemia was significantly higher only in diabetic CKD patients of stages 4 and 5. The prevalence was higher in females independently of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In diabetics with a normal renal function, the haemoglobin levels were higher than in diabetics and non-diabetics with CKD, but the diabetics showed lower levels of haemoglobin than non-diabetics at stage 3 and stage 4 of CKD. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients with CKD of stages 4 and 5 have a higher prevalence of anaemia than non-diabetic patients with comparable glomerular filtration rate. A higher awareness of this risk will allow earlier diagnosis and treatment.