Correction of acidosis in hemodialysis patients increases the sensitivity of the parathyroid glands to calcium.

Correction of acidosis in hemodialysis patients increases the sensitivity of the parathyroid glands to calcium. In this study, the parathyroid response to the correction of acidosis in eight hemodialysis patients was determined by performing dynamic assessment of parathyroid function before and after the correction of acidosis. The parathyroid response to intravenous calcitriol before and after the correction of acidosis was also assessed. After optimal correction of acidosis, there were no significant changes in blood pH, ionized calcium, phosphate, or alkaline phosphatase values, but the level of venous total CO2 increased significantly. Parathyroid hormone/ionized calcium curves were displaced downward after correction of acidosis, but not after the administration of intravenous calcitriol. The correction of metabolic acidosis in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism can suppress parathyroid hormone secretion by increasing the sensitivity of the parathyroid glands to ionized calcium.