The Role of Vitamin D Receptor Activation in Chronic Kidney Disease

The death rate from cardiovascular disease for dialysis patients is much higher than the general population, regardless of age. Observational data indicate that there is a close inter-relationship between progressive renal dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease cardiovascular disease and mortality. Continuously evidence indicates that deficiencies in vitamin D receptor activation represents one of key players in adversely affecting cardiovascular health, as well as inducing to secondary hyperparathyroidism in chromic kidney disease patients. Vitamin D receptors are widely expressed throughout the body and modulations of vitamin D levels results in correlative regulatory effects on mineral metabolism homeostasis, cardiovascular disease, and vascular calcification. The management of SHPT has developed enormously in recent years and different drug classes are available to treat this disease. Potentially, selective VDR activators not only reduce serum parathyroid hormone levels minimizing the risk of hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia, but also may improve patient health, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Hippokratia 2010; 14 (1): 7-9