About the Disease

What is chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

When you have CKD, your kidneys aren’t healthy.¹ As a result, they are less able to filter waste products, maintain the right balance of fluids and minerals in your body, and activate certain hormones.¹

You should not take Hectorol (doxercalciferol) if you have a history of abnormally high calcium blood levels (hypercalcemia) or if you have very high vitamin D levels.²

What are the different stages of CKD?

There are 5 stages of CKD that your doctor may discuss with you.³ In stage 5, kidneys will need the support of dialysis.³

What is parathyroid hormone (PTH)?

The parathyroid gland checks the levels of calcium and phosphorus in your body and sends out a hormone to control those levels.⁴ This hormone is called PTH.^4,5

When your kidneys aren’t healthy, they are not able to activate vitamin D, so your body can have trouble maintaining the right balance of calcium and phosphorus.^1,5 Low calcium levels will cause the parathyroid gland to send out too much PTH.^1,5 When you have too much PTH, you may have secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT).^4,5

Why is SHPT bad for me?

Over time, hyperparathyroidism can cause serious problems with your bones, lungs, and heart.^5,6 It can result in too much calcium being taken from your bones, leaving them weak.^5,6 SHPT can also contribute to calcium buildup in your heart or other areas where it doesn’t belong.⁶

SHPT may become hard to manage if left untreated. If you have been diagnosed with SHPT as a result of CKD, ask your doctor what you can do to help manage these conditions.