Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Paricalcitol lowers parathyroid hormone and protein in urine in dogs
By Chen, Hilla et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·Department of Small Animal Internal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effects of Paricalcitol on Renal Secondary Hyperparathyroidism and Proteinuria in Dogs With Chronic Kidney Disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Thirteen dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) were treated with a medication called paricalcitol to see if it could help reduce a hormone called parathyroid hormone (PTH) and lower protein levels in their urine. The results showed that the dogs receiving paricalcitol had a significant decrease in PTH levels and did not experience an increase in urine protein, while those on a placebo did. Additionally, some dogs had mild increases in calcium levels, but there were no reported side effects. Overall, paricalcitol helped manage kidney-related issues in these dogs.
People also search for: dog chronic kidney disease treatment · paricalcitol for dogs · dog protein in urine treatment
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Renal secondary hyperparathyroidism (RHPT) is an inevitable consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Paricalcitol might safely attenuate RHPT and proteinuria. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE: Paricalcitol decreases parathyroid hormone (PTH) and proteinuria in dogs with CKD. ANIMALS: Thirteen dogs with naturally acquired CKD. METHODS: Placebo-controlled clinical trial. Dogs were randomly allocated to receive a placebo or paricalcitol (14 ng/kg/day) in a crossover design of 2, 12-week arms. Dogs were evaluated every 3 weeks. Associations between treatment, visit, and the outcome variables were assessed using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: PTH decreased by 22% (95% CI, 7%-35%, p = 0.006) in the paricalcitol-treated dogs and increased by 18% (95% CI, 2%-37%, p = 0.022) in the placebo-treated dogs with each visit. FGF-23 at 12 weeks increased compared with baseline in the paricalcitol-treated (mean 6941 pg/mL, 95% CI, 1781-20 057 vs. 489 pg/mL, 95% CI, 188-1272, p < 0.001, respectively), but not in the placebo-treated dogs (696 pg/mL, 95% CI, 316-1531 vs. 955 pg/mL, 95% CI, 308-2963, p = 0.529). Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio at 12 weeks increased compared with baseline in the placebo-treated (0.8, 95% CI, 0.3-1.3 vs. 0.5, 95% CI, 0.2-0.9, p = 0.04, respectively), but not in the paricalcitol-treated dogs (0.6, 95% CI, 0.3-0.9 vs. 1.0, 95% CI, 0.1-1.8, p = 0.35). Ionized calcium was unchanged between baseline and 12 weeks in the paricalcitol- and placebo-treated groups (1.3 mmol/L, 95% CI, 1.29-1.35 and 1.34, 95% CI, 1.27-1.40 vs. 1.30, 95% CI, 1.25-1.35, p = 0.12 and 1.28, 95% CI, 1.24-1.32, p = 0.034, respectively). However, 7/13 dogs developed mild hypercalcemia. Adverse effects were not reported by the owners. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Paricalcitol attenuated RHPT and stabilized renal proteinuria in dogs with CKD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40110605/