Trial Outcomes & Findings for Oral Paricalcitol in Kidney Transplant Recipients (NCT NCT00587158)

Patients to undergo kidney transplantation at Mayo Clinic facilities in Rochester, Minnesota and in Scottsdale, Arizona and scheduled to receive corticosteroid avoidance anti-rejection therapy were screened for enrollment into the study.

112 patients were approached for enrollment. Of those, 4 patient's treating physicians did not think corticosteroid free immunosuppression was appropriate, 3 had their transplants cancelled, 3 were found to be vitamin D deficient, 1 withdrew consent prior to randomization \& 1 had a positive final crossmatch and hence were excluded from the study.

Oral Paricalcitol in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a measure of how well the parathyroid gland is working and is measured by a blood test. Hyperparathyroidism (increased PTH) is defined as PTH blood value greater than 65 picograms/milliliter in the absence of hypocalcemia (low calcium) or if the subject had a parathyroidectomy (surgical removal of parathyroid glands) during the first year post-transplant.

Osteopenia/Osteoporosis are conditions where bone mineral density is lower than normal, reported by T-scores, measurements of the hip made using an Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. The T-score is measured and compared to a normal healthy adult. A normal bone density results in a T-score between +1.0 and -1.0. A T-score of less than or equal to -1.5 was used for this study to define the presence of osteopenia/osteoporosis. Each participant will be categorized as having or not having osteopenia/osteoporosis of the hip at the end of the first post-transplant year based on bone mineral density results.

Osteopenia/Osteoporosis are conditions where bone mineral density is lower than normal, reported by T-scores, measurements of the lower spine made using an Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. The T-score is measured and compared to a normal healthy adult. A normal bone density results in a T-score between +1.0 and -1.0. A T-score of less than or equal to -1.5 was used for this study to define the presence of osteopenia/osteoporosis. Each participant will be categorized as having or not having osteopenia/osteoporosis of the lumbar spine at the end of the first post-transplant year based on bone mineral density results.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a hormone synthesized in the body's parathyroid glands that controls bone health. PTH controls calcium and phosphorus levels in the body. It is measured in the serum and reported in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL).

BAP is a marker of bone turn-over, is measured in the serum and reported in micrograms per liter (mcg/L).

BMD was measured using a Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan and reported by T-scores, measurements of the lower spine made using the scan. The T-score reflects how your bone density measurement compares to normal healthy adults. A normal bone density results in a T-score between +1.0 and -1.0. A T-score of less than or equal to -1.5 was used for this study to define the presence of osteopenia/osteoporosis. Osteopenia is a condition of decreased bone mass or density but not thin enough to be diagnosed as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition where bone mass/density has diminished to a level causing higher risk of fracture. The average change in T-score from baseline to one year is reported.

BMD was measured using a Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan and reported by T-scores, measurements made of the hip bones using the scan. The T-score reflects how your bone density measurement compares to normal healthy adults. A normal bone density results in a T-score between +1.0 and -1.0. A T-score of less than or equal to -1.5 was used for this study to define the presence of osteopenia/osteoporosis. Osteopenia is a condition of decreased bone mass or density but not thin enough to be diagnosed as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition where bone mass/density has diminished to a level causing higher risk of fracture. The average change in T-score from baseline to one year is reported.

The number of subject who died (or experienced failure of their kidney surgical graft) during the first year following kidney transplant are reported here.

The number of episodes of ACR, as proven by renal biopsy, were recorded.

Glomerular filtration rate describes the amount that fluid is filtered through the kidney and can be estimated by using serum creatinine. eGFR is reported in milliliters per minute per 1.73 m\^2 of body-surface area.

A urine total protein test is conducted to detect excess protein in the urine. This test helps determine an individual's kidney functioning. Protein is not usually present in urine; therefore, presence of protein in the urine is a sign of abnormality. The quantity of protein in a sample of urine collected over 24-hour was measured and reported in milligrams per day.

Interstitial fibrosis refers to degree of scarring or fibrous tissue formed in the kidney. Renal pathologists reviewed biopsies of the subject's kidney grafts for fibrosis, with results expressed using the Banff schema; Quantitative criteria: ci0 = fibrosis observed in up to 5% of cortical area, ci1 = fibrosis in 6%-25% of cortical area (mild) , ci2 = fibrosis in 26%-50% of cortical area (moderate), ci3 = fibrosis in greater than 50% of cortical area (severe). The degree of interstital fibrosis for this study was defined and reported as follows: a Banff ci score of greater than 0 and less than 2 considered "mild" fibrosis and a ci score greater than or equal to 2 as "moderate to severe" fibrosis.