Effects of Ergocalciferol on Erythropoetin Stimulating Agent Dose

Effects of Ergocalciferol on Erythropoetin Stimulating Agent Dose

Hypothesis: The supplementation of Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D2) to those with Vitamin D deficiency in the Chronic Kidney Disease population requiring recombinant human erythropoietin for the treatment of anemia related to kidney disease will reduce the dose of erythropoietin required to maintain a nonanemic state.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Chronic kidney disease
• Age: >18yo
• Stable Hemoglobin (Hgb) for 1 month on stable dose of erythropoietin for 1 month (defined as erythropoietin dose within 15% of previous months erythropoietin dose)
• Unchanged maintenance oral or intravenous (IV) iron therapy for 1 month
• Serum 25-hydroxy Vitamin D levels < 30 ng/mL
• History of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D levels < 30 ng/mL currently on ergocalciferol replacement

Exclusion Criteria:

• On hemodialysis
• Chronic kidney disease 5
• Hypercalcemic (Calcium level > 11mg/dL)
• Pregnant female
• Iron deficient (iron saturation < 20%, Ferritin < 100ng/mL)
• Presence of active malignancy
• Presence of active infections
• Presence of active inflammatory properties
• Presence of blood dyscrasias
• Active bleeding or bleeding within the past 3 months (other than menses)
• B12 deficiency
• Folate deficiency
• Blood transfusion during participation
• Parathyroid levels exceeding the expected levels allowed for the stage of a subjects Chronic kidney disease (Target Parathyroid in: Chronic kidney disease 3 35-70 pg/mL, Chronic kidney disease 4 70-110 pg/mL)