Paricalcitol capsules for the control of secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic kidney disease

Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a common complication of patients with chronic kidney disease. Treatment with calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, reduces parathyroid hormone levels, but may result in elevations in serum calcium and phosphorus. New vitamin D analogues have been developed to reduce parathyroid hormone secretion without concomitant hypercalcaemia and hyperphosphataemia. Recent data from studies with paricalcitol capsules, the oral formulation of 19-nor-1,25(OH)₂D₂, show a significant reduction in parathyroid hormone levels with no change in calcium and phosphorus levels when compared with placebo. Paricalcitol also compares favourably to other oral vitamin D analogues, effectively decreasing parathyroid secretion with less hypercalcaemia and hypercalciuria than other agents.