Medical therapy of secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic kidney disease: old and new drugs

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), a common complication of chronic kidney disease, is characterised by elevated serum levels of parathyroid hormone, parathyroid hyperplasia, excessive bone resorption and increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity. The stringent metabolic targets proposed by the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) for patients with SHPT are difficult to achieve using conventional treatment regimens. Several new agents, including new vitamin D sterols and phosphate binders, as well as a novel class of compounds--the calcimimetics--have been developed in recent years. This review examines new and traditional therapies for SHPT and how these can best be utilised in order to achieve the new K/DOQI targets.