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Study evaluates ergocalciferol vs cholecalciferol in patients

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Sang-A Yun

AUSTIN, Texas — A study presented at the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings showed ergocalciferol was as effective as cholecalciferol in maintaining vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and calcium levels among patients with chronic kidney disease; however, cholecalciferol increased phosphorous concentrations compared to ergocalciferol.

“[I] evaluated different serum concentrations, such as PTH, calcium and vitamin D, and what I found was that in all the lab values they were not statistically significantly different from each other except for phosphorus, and for phosphorus I saw that there was an increase level for cholecalciferol vs. for ergocalciferol,” Sang-A Yun, a PharmD candidate from Purdue University College of Pharmacy, told Healio Nephrology. “There was a decrease in that lab value, and it was a statistically significant difference with a P value of 0.03. So, as higher phosphorus levels correlated with mortality. My discussion was that it’d be warranted to look into if morality and phosphorus could be linked with the vitamin D levels.”

According to the abstract for the study, the P value demonstrated a significant difference in the phosphorous concentrations from baseline after drug administration. The single-center retrospective cohort included 39 patients with stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease not on dialysis and was conducted after the Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital changed its protocol so patients taking ergocalciferol were switched to cholecalciferol.

Mean baseline and final measures for serum phosphorus were 0.12 mg/dL and -0.3 mg/dL for cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol, respectively.

“Some future implications would be looking into multiple centers as well as maybe even evaluating adherence, since ergocalciferol is given on a less frequent basis, and see if that has an impact on patients as well,” Yun added. – by Jake Scott and Kristine Houck, MA, ELS

Reference:

Yun S, et al. Poster 177. Presented at: National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings; April 10-14, 2018; Austin, Texas.

Disclosure: Yun reports no relevant financial disclosures.