Effect of 1-alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol on magnesium metabolism in chronic renal failure.

Effect of 1-alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol on magnesium metabolism in chronic renal failure Vitamin D derivatives and analogues are increasingly being used to treat bone disease in chronic renal failure but their effects on magnesium metabolism have not been fully documented. The use of 1-oc-hydroxycholecalciferol (1-m-OHDD) in chronic renal failure, however, may be associated with a special risk of magnesium intoxication. 'This prompted us to review our own data. Methods and results We studied the external balances of calcium and magnesium2 in two patients with chronic renal failure and renal bone disease (cases 1 and 2; plasma creatinine 480 ,umol/l (5 4 mg/100 ml) and 640 ,umol/l (7-2 mg/100 ml) respectively) before and during treatment with 1-m-OHD3 2 teg/daily by mouth (see figure). Considerable increases in calcium retention during the first four days of treatment in case 1, and after 18 months in case 2 (a renal dwarf who ate little calcium), were unaccompanied by significant changes in magnesium balance.