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Calcitriol (INN) (pronounced /ˌkælsɨˈtraɪɒl/, /ˌkælˈsɨtriːɒl/) or 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (abbreviated 1,25-(OH)2D3) is the active form of vitamin D found in the body (vitamin D3). It increases the absorption of calcium and phosphate from the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys and inhibits release of PTH.
Additional recommended knowledge
Production and function
It is produced in the kidneys via 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase by conversion from 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (calcidiol).
This is stimulated by a decrease in serum calcium and/or phosphate (PO43−), and an increase in parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. It increases blood calcium levels by increasing the absorption of calcium and phosphate from the gastrointestinal tract, increasing calcium and phosphate reabsorption in the kidneys and inhibiting the release of PTH.
Calcitriol is also commonly used as a medication in the treatment of hypocalcemia and osteoporosis.
Calcitriol becomes calcitroic acid through the action of 24-hydroxylase. Calcitroic acid is excreted in the urine.
Calcitriol is indicated for:
Calcitriol is also sometimes used topically in the treatment of psoriasis, however the evidence to support its efficacy is inconclusive. The vitamin D analogue calcipotriol is more commonly used for psoriasis.
The main adverse drug reaction associated with calcitriol therapy is hypercalcaemia – early symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, constipation, anorexia, apathy, headache, thirst, sweating, and/or polyuria). Compared to other vitamin D compounds in clinical use (cholecalciferol, ergocalciferol), calcitriol has a higher risk of inducing hypercalcaemia. However, such episodes may be shorter and easier to treat due to its relatively short half-life.
|This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Calcitriol". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.|