Squadron Leader, Squadron Leader, Fuad Ahmad Siddiqi.
Chronic renal failure patients.
Professional Med J Jan ;11(4):423-6.

To find out effects of I/V Calcitriol on T cell counts, biochemistry and incidence of infections in patients with chronic renal failure. Study design: Randomized placebo controlled interventional trial. Setting and period: Department of Nephrology, Military Hospital Rawalpindi during the years 1997-98. Materials and Methods: Out of 40 patients of chronic renal failure who were on maintenance haemodialysis, twenty were given I/V calcitriol whereas other twenty were taken as controls. The data was collected on special proformas. The relevant investigations were carried out at start and 3 months using specialized laboratory equipment and patients followed over a period of 3 months for incidence of infections. Results: T-cell (CD3) counts were significantly high (p<0.005) in the treated group after 3 months of calcitriol treatment. Biochemically, the treated group had significantly low PTH levels (p<0.005). Most infections in both categories of patients were related to urinary and respiratory tracts and there was not a single case of tuberculosis. Conclusion: I/V calcitriol in patients on haemodialysis results in increase in T cells and low PTH levels but its effect on incidence of infections requires further and extended studies.

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