Secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients on maintenance hemodialysis: study of the N and C-terminal parathyroid hormones.

In 34 dialysis patients without secondary hyperparathyroidism and 10 dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism, the concentration of parathyroid hormone, total calcium, ionized calcium, inorganic phosphate, total alkaline phosphatase and bone alkaline phosphatase in serum were determined. The following results were obtained: serum N and C-terminal parathyroid hormone levels, serum total and ionized calcium levels, and serum total and bone alkaline phosphatase levels in dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism were higher than the corresponding values in cases of negative secondary hyperparathyroidism. Serum phosphate levels in dialysis patients with and without secondary hyperparathyroidism did not differ. Serum bone alkaline phosphatase activities were well correlated with serum total alkaline phosphatase activities in patients on hemodialysis.