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Evidence summaries

Calcimimetics for Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Calcimimetic treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in end-stage chronic kidney disease appears to be effective for improving biochemical parameters (S-Ca, S-Ph, S-PTH), but appears not to reduce mortality. Level of evidence: "B"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 18 studies (n=7 446) comparing a calcimimetic agent plus standard therapy to placebo plus standard therapy. In adults with GFR category G5 (GFR below 15 mL/min/1.73 m²) treated with dialysis, routine cinacalcet treatment had little or no effect on all-cause mortality (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.05), imprecise effects on cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.16 to 2.87), and prevented surgical parathyroidectomy (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.59) and hypercalcaemia (RR 0.23, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.97), but increased hypocalcaemia (RR 6.98, 95% CI 5.10 to 9.53), nausea (RR 2.02, 95% CI 1.45 to 2.81) and vomiting (RR 1.97, 95% CI 95% CI 1.73 to 2.24). Cinacalcet decreased serum PTH (MD -281.39 pg/mL, 95% CI -325.84 to -234.94) and calcium (MD -0.87 mg/dL, 95% CI -0.96 to -0.77) levels, but had little or no effect on serum phosphorous levels (MD -0.23 mg/dL, 95% CI -0.58 to 0.12).Data were sparse for adults with GFR categories G3a to G4 (GFR 15 to 60 mL/min/1.73 m²) and kidney transplant recipients.

Comment: The level of evidence is downgraded by study quality (limitations intention-to-treat adherence and follow-up).

References

  • Ballinger AE, Palmer SC, Nistor I et al. Calcimimetics for secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic kidney disease patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014;(12):CD006254. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords