The Effect of Increasing Dialysate Calcium on T50 in Subjects With Secondary Hyperparathyroidism and ESKD

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) have an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. High parathyroid hormone (PTH) from secondary hyperparathyroidism leads to increased efflux of phosphate and calcium from bone, which exacerbates vascular calcification and increases the risk of bone fractures. The main driving factor for secondary hyperparathyroidism is hypocalcaemia caused by low levels of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D and pharmacological supplementation with activated vitamin D and oral calcium-containing phosphate-binders are used to control secondary hyperparathyroidism. The amount of calcium used in this context is controversial, as higher calcium load in blood may theoretically increase vascular calcification. Conversely, by alleviating the efflux of phosphate and calcium from bone due to secondary hyperparathyroidism, increasing the load of calcium might actually prevent vascular calcification. To study this further, we wish to conduct a randomised double-blinded controlled clinical trial of increasing dialysate Ca from 1.25 mmol/L (standard dialysate concentration) to 1.50 mmol/L in patients with ESKD and secondary hyperparathyroidism on maintenance haemodialysis (HD). The overall effect of increased dialysate calcium will be gauged by its effect on serum calcification propensity (T50) and on markers of bone turnover.