#220 Effect of cholecalciferol supplementation on anemia in hemodialysis patients with vitamin D deficiency

Abstract Background and Aims Vitamin D [25(OH)D3] deficiency is common in hemodialysis (HD) patients and is considered an often ignored component in the pathogenesis of anaemia. We evaluated the effect of cholecalciferol supplementation on haemoglobin (Hb) levels in HD patients with vitamin D deficiency and anemia. Method Retrospectively, 117/256 patients with Hb levels <11 g/dl and vitamin D levels <30 ng/ml treated with cholecalciferol at a weekly dose of 25,000 IU p.o. for at least 12 months were selected. At follow-up (F-U), only 74 patients had taken cholecalciferol (G1); the remaining 43 were considered the control group (G2). PTH, 25(OH)D3 and ferritin were determined every 6 months. Results At baseline, there were no significant differences between the two groups; Hb levels were significantly correlated with 25(OH)D3 (r = .367; P < 0.001) and PTH (r = −.110; P < 0.05). At F-U in the G1 group, there was an increase in Hb from 10.2 ± 0.7 to 11.8 ± 1.2 g/dl (P < 0.001) and in 25(OH)D3 from 13.4 ± 6.2 to 35.0 ± 8.4 ng/ml (P < 0.05), PTH levels decreased from 542 ± 427 to 338 ± 280 pg/ml (P < 0.01). At the same time, the average dosages of ESAs remained unchanged. In this group, the patients insufficient for vitamin D (10–29 ng/ml) went from 69% to 39%, those deficient (<10 ng/ml) from 31% to 0%, while those sufficient (≥30 ng/ml) from 0 to 61%. In the G2 to F-U, there were no significant changes in the main parameters examined. Conclusion Vitamin deficiency seems to be associated with anemia, so its supplementation would be desirable to improve the parameters of CKD-MBD and anemia. Our results need to be confirmed from studies conducted on a larger population.