Alfacalcidol in CKD-MBD A Fresh Look Brandi, L Published in: Journal of Clinical Nephrology and Research Publication date: 2017 Document version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Document license: CC BY Citation for published version (APA): Brandi, L. (2017). Alfacalcidol in CKD-MBD: A Fresh Look. Journal of Clinical Nephrology and Research, 4(2), [1061]. http://www.jscimedcentral.com/Nephrology/vol4issue2.php Download date: 06. okt.. 2021 Central Journal of Clinical Nephrology and Research Bringing Excellence in Open Access Review Article *Corresponding author Lisbet Brandi, Department of Cardiology Nephrology and Endocrinology H0642, North Zealand Hospital, Dyrehavevej 29, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark, Tel: 45 4829 Alfacalcidol in CKD-MBD - A 5993; Mobile: 45 2054 2458; Email: Fresh Look Submitted: 06 March 2017 Accepted: 11 April 2017 Brandi L* Published: 14 April 2017 Department of Cardiology, Nephrology and Endocrinology, University of Copenhagen, ISSN: 2379-0652 Denmark Copyright © 2017 Brandi Abstract OPEN ACCESS Chronic Kidney Disease Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) is a result of metabolic changes that occur in patients with chronic kidney disease. The Keywords consequences are renal osteodystrophy and vascular calcifications, especially seen • Alfacalcidol in the more advanced stages of chronic renal failure. Different treatment regimens • Vitamin D analog including dietary phosphate restriction, oral phosphate binders and active vitamin D • CKD-MBD supplementation have been used during the last 30 years. Alfacalcidol (1a(OH)D3) is • Secondary hyperparathyroidism an analog of vitamin D3, a pro-drug of 1,25(OH)2D3, which is hydroxylated at position • Uremia number 1 and therefore bypasses the impaired 1a-hydroxylation in the diseased kidneys of patients with chronic renal failure. Alfacalcidol was the first vitamin D analog produced in the 1970’s, available for treatment of renal osteodystrophy in all stages of CKD. It has been used in most European countries since then, either alone or in combination with calcimimetics or bisphosphonates and shown to attenuate all aspects of CKD-MBD. During the last 20 years, new vitamin D analogs with a potentially less effect on plasma calcium and phosphate and a more positive effect on the cardiovascular system have been on the market. None have demonstrated superiority compared to alfacalcidol. Based on the available clinical data, alfacalcidol can still be prescribed for treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in both early and late stages of CKD, besides being affordable to many patients, which is an important factor in many countries. Hopefully, new drugs will be available in the future, which have positive effects on mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in CKD. ABBREVIATIONS BMD: Bone Mineral Density; CKD: Chronic Kidney Disease; become a part of the armamentarium [1].Current understanding CKD-MBD: Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder; Dof areCKD-MBD key players suggests in regulating that calcium, mineral phosphate, and bone metabolism.parathyroid CVD: Cardiovascular Disease; FGF-23: Fibroblast Growth Factor Thehormone factors (PTH), are interrelated fibroblast growth and their factor major 23 (FGF-23) target organs and vitamin are the 23; HPT: Hyperparathyroidism; HR-pQCT: High Resolution peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography; KDIGO: Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes; PTH: Parathyroid FGF-23parathyroid contribute glands, to the the kidneys,increased bone cardiovascular and the gastrointestinal disease (CVD) Hormone; SHPT: Secondary Hyperparathyroidism; VDR: Vitamin tract (Figure 1). The increased levels of phosphate, PTH and D Receptor; VDRA: Vitamin D Receptor Activator; Wnt: Wingless- crosstalk between bone and vessels as triggers for increased related Integration site in CKD [2,3]. Recent data has focused on the loss of klotho and INTRODUCTION thevascular Wingless-related calcification in integration CKD. The hypothesis site pathway is that expressed bone affected by Chronic Kidney Disease Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD- by CKD predisposes to accelerated vascular calcification through MBD) is a result of metabolic changes that occur in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The consequences are renal changes in sclerostin, osteocalcin, Dickkopf-related protein 1and activin A [4-6]. In patients with CKD stage 5D and elevated the more advanced stages of CKD. Different treatment regimens or rising PTH, the KDIGO guidelines recommend: “calcitriol, osteodystrophy and vascular calcifications, especially seen in calcimimetics and calcitriol or vitamin D analogs to lower or vitamin D analogs, or calcimimetics, or a combination of and active vitamin D supplementation have been used for the last including dietary phosphate restriction, oral phosphate binders PTH”. In patients with CKD stage 3-5 not on dialysis, the KDIGO guidelines recommend: “in whom serum PTH is progressively 30 years, and during the last 15 years calcimimetics have also Cite this article: Brandi L (2017) Alfacalcidol in CKD-MBD - A Fresh Look. J Clin Nephrol Res 4(2): 1061. Brandi (2017) Email: Central Bringing Excellence in Open Access Figure 1 Pathogenesis of secondary hyperparathyroidism in Chronic Kidney Disease – role of vitamin D. rising and remains persistently above the upper limit of normal terms used were “alfacalcidol”, “one-alpha” “vitamin D analogs”, for the assay despite correction of modifiable factors, we suggest “PTH”, “FGF23”, “phosphate”, “secondary hyperparathyroidism”, 3) in patients with advanced CKD treatment with calcitriol or vitamin D analogs” [7]. Repletion of “CKD” and “human”, alone and in combination. All articles 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH-D papers.identified were English language, full-text papers. Reference is still recommend, despite evidence for this being controversial lists of identified articles were also searched for further relevant [7-10]. CLINICAL USES OF ALFACALCIDOL The pro-drug alfacalcidol lisa analog of vitamin D, which is Many different (mainly small) studies demonstrate an effect inhydroxylated the liver and at positionin part locallynumber in 1other (Figure tissues 2). Alfacalcidolhas (e.g. bone) to the advantage of requiring only hydroxylationD at). theAdministration 25-position of alfacalcidolas treatment and prophylaxis of SHPT in CKD 2 3 of alfacalcidol on both PTH level, bone and vessels. The effects become 1,25-hydroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH) of alfacalcidol therefore bypasses the impaired 1α-hydroxylation andpatients oral onadministration chronic dialysis of alfacalcidoltoare well documented suppress [13,14]. PTH without Brandi in the diseased kidneys in patients with CKD [11]. et al., demonstrated that it was possible with both intravenous PreliminaryAlfacalcidol reports was producedshowed a by therapeutic LEO Pharma effect in 1973 of alfacalcidol as an oral inducing hypercalcemia, when plasma calcium was closely formulation, which was convenient, stable and inexpensive [12]. ofmonitored alfacalcidolsuppressed and dose of PTHalfacalcidolcarefully at all levels of PTHadjusted in patients [13]. onGonzalez chronic et hemodialysis.al., demonstrated The thateffect intravenous was greater administration at mild to already in 1973 in rats and human [12] and the drug became vitaminavailable D in analog Denmark in Denmark in 1974 and as inthe most first countriesand only worldwidevitamin D foranalog prophylaxis for clinical and use. treatment Since then, of secondary it has been hyperparathyroidism the most used active moderate levels of PTH and therefore, initiation of therapy (SHPT) and renal osteodystrophy. Alfacalcidolis also approved effectshould of be oral in thealfacalcidol early stages on bone of the was SHPT clearly [15]. demonstrated Oral alfacalcidol in a also effectively suppressed PTH in children [16]. In 1995, the histology and preventing increases in alkaline phosphatases senilefor treatment osteoporosis of inrenal most bonecountries disease, worldwide. different forms of randomized controlled trial in CKD stage 3-4, by improving bone osteomalacia and postmenopausal, glucocorticoid-induced and The present article will focus on new knowledge about the (Figure 3) [17]. In 2004, Rix et al., demonstrated that alfacalcidol pathogenesis of CKD-MBD and clinical use of alfacalcidol in CKD improved Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and decreased PTH, osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatases (Figure 4) [18]. Further, further advantages in treatment of CKD-MBD compared to bisphosphonate produced a superior effect on BMD compared in kidney transplant recipients, alfacalcidol in combination with alfacalcidol.stage 3-5 and 5D, and whether newer vitamin D analogs provide REVIEW CRITERIA the either of the two drugs alone [19]. In another study, Brandi et al., demonstrated an increase in BMD in dialysis patients treated within travenous alfacalcidol [13]. focusing on alfacalcidol was performed in PubMed. The search A search for articles published between 2008 and 2016 The main cause of mortality in CKD patients is CVD [20]. Therapies with active vitamin D and analogues, independent of J Clin Nephrol Res 4(2): 1061 (2017) 2/7 Brandi (2017) Email: Central Bringing Excellence in Open Access In a hemodialysis population, treatment with alfacalcidol was associated with reduced development of vascular calcification as assessed by chest-x-ray [29]. versus to no active vitamin D treatment in dialysis patients demonstratedAlso, an open-label that treatment randomized with clinicalalfacalcidol trial hadof alfacalcidol no effect