[Parathyroid and bone. Calcimimetics and bone metabolism].

Calcimimetics suppress parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion by allosterically acting on parathyroid calcium-sensing receptor. It has been already shown that one of calcimimetics decreases PTH level, calcium-phosphate product and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) caused by end-stage renal disease. It has been also described that this drug ameliorates osteitis fibrosa in uremic rats. However, there has been so far insufficient evidence showing that calcimimetics increase bone mineral density and decrease fractures in human. Effects of calcimimetics on bone metabolism need to be investigated by clinical studies for longer usage of this drug in the future.