Hypercalcemia secondary to persistent hyperparathyroidism in kidney transplant patients: analysis after a year with cinacalcet.

Introduction: The most common cause of hypercalcemia in patients with transplanted kidneys is persistent hyperparathyroidism, which presents in 10%-30% of patients with functioning renal grafts. In these patients, the treatment of vitamin D-resistant hyperparathyroidism traditionally required parathyroidectomy. Calcimimetic agents represent a new therapeutic alternative; they inhibit parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion, increasing the sensitivity of the calcium-sensitive receptor in the parathyroid gland.