Spinal calcium changes with 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3.

During treatment of renal osteodystrophy with 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 in eleven patients, regional changes in the skeleton have been compared with long-term calcium balance as assessed by whole-body calcium. Radial bone changes did not correlated well with calcium balance, but spinal calcium changes were of a similar magnitude when changes were large. Bone alkaline phosphatase changes correlated well with changes in spinal calcium, but less well with changes in radial bone density.