Changes in parathyroid hormone in diabetic patients on long-term hemodialysis.

Changes in parathyroid hormone (PTH) and osteocalcin over 3 years were studied in hemodialyzed patients with diabetic nephropathy (HD/DM) and hemodialyzed patients without diabetes (HD/non-DM). In HD/DM patients, concentrations of the carboxyl terminal regions of PTH and osteocalcin in the serum did not change significantly, but in HD/non-DM patients, both concentrations increased significantly. In patients in both groups, the mean concentration of the mid-region of PTH increased significantly. Secondary hyperparathyroidism in HD/DM develops slower than in HD/non-DM.