These data show that PTH can be monitored with either iPTH or biPTH assays during therapy with cinacalcet, and that cinacalcet therapy does not exert a major influence on the ratio between PTH(1-84) and large, N-terminally truncated PTH fragments.

Background & objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is commonly complicated by secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), leading to increased risk of morbidity and mortality. SHPT is a progressive disease often requiring long-term therapy to control parathyroid hormone (PTH) and mineral imbalances. Vitamin D sterols and phosphate binders, used as traditional therapies to lower PTH and phosphorus, may provide inadequate long-term control for many dialysis patients. Cinacalcet, by simultaneously lowering PTH, calcium, phosphorus, and calcium-phosphorus levels, may maintain PTH and mineral balance in these individuals. However, as with traditional therapies, long-term data are limited.Design, setting, participants, & measurement: Dialysis subjects from at least one of five lead-in studies (double-blind placebo-controlled, including one extension trial) completing up to 52 wk of either cinacalcet or placebo were eligible for this open-label extension study, including an 8-wk dose titration (initiated at 30 mg/d), followed by 24-wk maintenance and up to 132 wk of follow-up. Final efficacy analysis was at week 180.Results: Three hundred thirty-four of 589 enrolled subjects received cinacalcet from the beginning of the lead-in study. Weekly median PTH values were <300 pg/ml (weeks 16 through 180) and median Ca؋P values were <55 mg 2 /dl 2 (weeks 4 through 180). Similar results were exhibited in the 255 subjects who initially received placebo. Among the patients exposed to cinacalcet from the beginning of the lead-in study, 3% of subjects exhibited treatment-related serious adverse events.Conclusions: Cinacalcet effectively maintained PTH, Ca and P reductions in dialysis subjects for up to 180 wk. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 4: 1465-1476, 2009. doi: 10.2215 S econdary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) occurs often in chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is characterized by increases in the synthesis and secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and by disturbances in calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and vitamin D metabolism (1). SHPT is a progressive disorder among those undergoing dialysis in whom PTH levels increase by an average of 6% per year (2). Elevated PTH, Ca, P, and CaϫP levels and alterations in vitamin D metabolism are associated with important adverse outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, in such patients (3-6).The long-term efficacy and safety of traditional therapies for SHPT have not been critically examined. Despite many years of clinical use, results from prospective clinical trials describing therapeutic responses to any vitamin D sterol among dialysis patients with SHPT lasting more than 13 mo are available from only six patients after 2 yr of follow-up (20). Sustained treatment with vitamin D alone often proves inadequate for dialysis patients with SHPT (7-9). Disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism frequently disrupt therapy (10), rendering consistent biochemical control of the disorder difficult (8).Treatment with cinacalcet hydrochloride (cinacalcet) often concurrently lowers PTH, Ca, P, and CaϫP levels a...

Background: Serum protein profiling patterns can reflect the pathological state of a patient and therefore may be useful for clinical diagnostics. Here, we present results from a pilot study of proteomic expression patterns in hemodialysis patients designed to evaluate the range of serum proteomic alterations in this population. Methods: Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) was used to analyze serum obtained from patients on periodic hemodialysis treatment and healthy controls. Serum samples from patients and controls were first fractionated into six eluants on a strong anion exchange column, followed by application to four array chemistries representing cation exchange, anion exchange, metal affinity and hydrophobic surfaces. A total of 144 SELDI-TOF-MS spectra were obtained from each serum sample. Results: The overall profiles of the patient and control samples were consistent and reproducible. However, 30 well-defined protein differences were observed; 15 proteins were elevated and 15 were decreased in patients compared to controls. Serum from 1 patient exhibited novel protein peaks suggesting possible additional changes due to a secondary disease process. Conclusion: SELDI-TOF-MS demonstrated consistent serum protein profile differences between patients and controls. Similarity in protein profiles among dialysis patients suggests that patient physiological responses to end-stage renal disease and/or dialysis therapy have a major effect on serum protein profiles.

Data from private community nephrology practices showed that extended epoetin alfa dosing effectively maintained Hb > or =11.0 g/dl in 82% of these selected patients being treated for anaemia of CKD.