Difficult inclusion of patients diagnosed with renal anemia in chronic hemodialysis patients without hyperparathyroidism.

Anemia of inflammation (AI) is a common comorbidity in hemodialysis patients. Paricalcitol is a selective vitamin D receptor activator with potential benefits on anti-inflammatory cytokines expression. The paricalcitol for the secondary hyperparathyroidism control may improve AI decreasing erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs) dosage.

Anemia of inflammation and secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) are two common clinical complications in patients with chronic kidney disease. Eryptosis (accelerated red blood cell death) is a novel mechanism associated with renal anemia and several factors such us iron, erythropoietin and klotho (anti-aging hormone) deficiency have been associated with this process.

The use of the paricalcitol may inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines expression, especially interleukine-6, which is one of the most important cytokine associated with the pathogenesis of the AI. If the use of the paricalcitol for the SHPT control may exert direct influence on the erythropoiesis process is not known.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age >= 18 years.
• Patients with CKD on hemodialysis of any etiology..
• Hemoglobin between 9 and 12g/dl at least 12 weeks before enrollment in the study.
• Hemoglobin plasma levels stabilized: Hb variation <or = 1 g / dl for the two months prior to inclusion in the study.
• Patients with anemia of renal etiology.
• ESA treatment with stable doses for 2 months prior to baseline.Stable dose ESA Definition: Variation <or = 3000UI/week.
• Iron status: Ferritin> 200 ng / mL and/or transferrin saturation index (IST):> = 20%).
• KT / V >= 1.2 ( Daugirdas-2nd generation).
• Calcium concentrations between : 8.4 to 9.5 mg / dl and phosphorus: 3.5-5.5 mg / dl.
• Vitamin D 25OH normal >= 15 ng / ml (patients with lower levels will be supplemented with calcifediol 16000 IU / bi-weekly for 6 weeks in selected patients).
• PTHi concentrations> = 150 pg / mL and <or = to 300 pg / ml.
• Patients who accept their inclusion in the study and sign informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Epoetin beta dose > 18,000 IU / weekly.
• Pregnant woman of childbearing age or gestational wishes or not to use adequate contraception ( the Ogino-Knaus contraceptive method is considered unsuitable).
• Active bleeding episode or history of transfusion the 2 months prior to baseline.
• Patients with non-renal causes of anemia: malignancies, folic acid or vitamin B12 deficiency, hemoglobinopathies, hemolysis, pure red cell aplasia secondary to erythropoietin.
• Patients treated with the selective vitamin D receptor activator in the 3 months prior to inclusion in the study.
• Acute or chronic symptomatic: heart failure (IV-NYHA), infection or inflammatory disease, uncontrolled hypertension that requires the suspension of epoetin beta, thrombocytopathies, aplastic anemia.
• Immunosuppressive treatment with uncontrolled Hemoglobin level
• Allergy to paricalcitol or any of its components.

The IPD could be shared with any interested public research institute

After finalized the study

Research