Higher iPTH Does Not Hike Risk of Death, Cardiovascular Events

Higher iPTH Does Not Hike Risk of Death, Cardiovascular Events
Eric Butterman
October 30 2009

This article is part of our ongoing coverage of Renal Week 2009. Click here for a complete list of our Renal Week Live articles.

Higher intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels are not associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in CKD patients not yet on dialysis, researchers have concluded.

It has been hypothesized that elevated iPTH increases the risk of death among CKD patients not yet on dialysis.

In a randomized, double-blind trial, named the Homocysteine Study, Jessica B. Kendrick, MD, of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, and colleagues evaluated the effects of high doses of folic acid and B vitamins on all-cause mortality and CV events in 1,133 patients with advanced CKD and elevated serum homocysteine levels.

During a median follow-up of three years, 472 patients (42%) died from any cause and 237 (21%) had a CV event. After adjusting for potential confounders, the investigators found no association between iPTH and either all-cause mortality or CV events.

The study population had a mean age of 69 years, and 27% of subjects were black.

Posted Oct. 30, 2009 - 5:46 pm PT as an unedited blog
Updated and edited Oct. 30, 2009 - 9:03 pm PT

http://www.renalandurologynews.com/Higher-iPTH-Does-Not-Hike-Risk-of--Death-Cardiovascular-Events/PrintArticle/156728/