About Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

When your kidneys aren’t healthy, they are less able to filter waste from your body. Unhealthy kidneys may be unable to maintain the right balance of fluids, minerals, and other substances in your body. An imbalance of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus can cause an overstimulation of the parathyroid gland. The parathyroid gland is part of the thyroid gland. It checks the levels of calcium and phosphorus in your body and sends out a hormone to control those levels. This hormone is called parathyroid hormone, or PTH. When your kidneys aren’t fully healthy, the parathyroid gland can send out too much PTH. So your body can get the wrong signals about maintaining the right balance of calcium and phosphorus. When you have too much PTH you have secondary hyperparathyroidism or SHPT. SHPT is a very common complication of chronic kidney disease.

Over time, SHPT can cause serious problems with your bones, lungs, and heart. It can result in too much calcium being taken from your bones, leaving them weak. SHPT can also contribute to calcium buildup in your heart or other areas where it doesn’t belong.

Hectorol is used to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic kidney disease. You should not take Hectorol if you have a history of abnormally high calcium blood levels (hypercalcemia) or if you have very high vitamin D levels. Overdosage of any form of vitamin D is dangerous. Before taking Hectorol, tell your doctor if you have ever had an irregular heartbeat or seizure, or if you are taking any digitalis drugs. Do not take other Vitamin D related drugs if you are currently taking Hectorol. It is important for anyone taking Hectorol to talk to their doctor before taking any non-prescription drugs or magnesium-containing antacids, and to adhere to instructions about following a low phosphorus diet and calcium supplementation. One of the main side effects of treatment with Hectorol is hypercalcemia. Tell your doctor if you experience symptoms of hypercalcemia, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, and increased thirst. Common side effects seen in Hectorol treated patients not on dialysis (pre-dialysis) were infection, chest pain, constipation, indigestion, anemia, dehydration, depression, muscle tension, sleeplessness, tingling sensation, increased cough, shortness of breath and runny nose. Common side effects seen in Hectorol treated patients on dialysis were headache, ill feeling, slow heartbeat, nausea/vomiting, swelling, dizziness, shortness of breath, and itching. Hectorol is available by prescription only. See Hectorol Capsules Full Prescribing Information or Hectorol Injection Full Prescribing Information


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