Paricalcitol treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in hemodialysis patients: a German-Austrian, single-arm, open-label, prospective, noninterventional, observational study.

Background: Safety and efficacy of paricalcitol in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) was investigated under routine clinical practice in German and Austrian dialysis centers.

Methods: Hemodialysis patients with sHPT initiating intravenous paricalcitol were enrolled in this noninterventional study regardless of concomitant sHPT treatment. Prior active vitamin D therapy was discontinued.

Effective use of cinacalcet for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in Austrian dialysis patients--results of the Austrian cohort of the ECHO study.

Background: Despite extensive use of standard therapy for secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) in dialysis patients, still most patients do not achieve the recommended treatment targets. In a pan-European observational study (ECHO), the effectiveness of the calcimimetic cinacalcet for the treatment of sHPT was evaluated in real-world clinical practice. A sub-analysis of the entire Austrian study cohort is presented.

Impact of vitamin D dose on biochemical parameters in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism receiving cinacalcet.

Background/aims: The calcimimetic cinacalcet (Mimpara/Sensipar) simultaneously lowers parathyroid hormone (PTH), phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) levels in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. The OPTIMA study demonstrated that cinacalcet and adjusted doses of vitamin D maximized control of these parameters. This post-hoc analysis of OPTIMA data assessed the impact of reducing or increasing the dose of concomitant vitamin D on PTH, P and Ca in patients receiving cinacalcet.

Non-phenacetin analgesics and analgesic nephropathy: clinical assessment of high users from a case-control study.

Background: A recent large-scale case-control study on analgesic nephropathy (SAN) [1] found no increased risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in users of combined or single formulations of phenacetin-free analgesics. In a subgroup of 22 high users, however, a dose-dependent increased risk was found, which raised the question if these patients presented or not with analgesic nephropathy (AN).

Methods: The individual questionnaires of this subgroup of high users were reviewed, and the total lifetime intake of different types of analgesics was calculated.

Pharmacokinetics of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium: comparative study in patients with autoimmune disease and renal allograft.

Background: Recently, mycophenolic acid drugs have gained interest in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. However, only limited pharmacokinetic data are available on enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in non-transplant indications.

Objective: This study compared the pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid from enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in patients with autoimmune disease and renal transplant recipients.

The OPTIMA study: assessing a new cinacalcet (Sensipar/Mimpara) treatment algorithm for secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Background And Objectives: Cinacalcet, a novel calcimimetic, targets the calcium-sensing receptor to lower parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, and phosphorus levels in dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). This study compared the efficacy of a cinacalcet-based regimen with unrestricted conventional care (vitamin D and phosphate binders) for achieving the stringent National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) targets for dialysis patients.

Study Design: In this multicenter, open-label study, hemodialysis patients with poorly controlled SHPT were randomized to receive conventional care (n = 184) or a cinacalcet-based regimen (n = 368).

Analgesics use and ESRD in younger age: a case-control study.

Background: An ad hoc peer-review committee was jointly appointed by Drug Authorities and Industry in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 1999/2000 to review the evidence for a causal relation between phenacetin-free analgesics and nephropathy. The committee found the evidence as inconclusive and requested a new case-control study of adequate design.

Methods: We performed a population-based case-control study with incident cases of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) under the age of 50 years and four age and sex-matched neighborhood controls in 170 dialysis centers (153 in Germany, and 17 in Austria) from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2004.

Reversal of acute renal failure by bortezomib-based chemotherapy in patients with multiple myeloma.

Paraprotein induced renal failure is a frequent complication of multiple myeloma and is associated with poor survival. Previously, reversal of renal function has been hampered by the lack of fast acting and highly effective myeloma therapy and most patients remained or became dependent on hemodialysis. Here we show reversal of acute paraprotein-induced renal failure by bortezomib-based therapy in 5 out of 8 patients.

Case-control study on analgesics and nephropathy (SAN): protocol.

Background: The association between intake of non-phenacetin-containing analgesics and the occurrence of chronic renal failure is still controversially discussed. A new epidemiologic study was planned and conducted in Germany and Austria.

Methods/design: The objective of the international, multicenter case-control study was to evaluate the association between end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and use of non-phenacetin-containing analgesics with particular emphasis on combined formulations.