Comparisons between oral and intraperitoneal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 therapy in children treated with peritoneal dialysis.

Recent studies in adults have suggested that parenteral 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (1,25[OH] 2 D 3 ) may have advantages over oral therapy in the management of renal osteodystrophy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were clear differences between oral and IP 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 treatments in children who did not pose a treatment problem. Seven children (5 males, 2 females, aged 1.8 to 16 years, median 4.8 years) undergoing peritoneal dialysis were initially treated with oral 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 for a one month equilibration period They were randomly assigned to 1 months of either oral or intraperitoneal (IP) therapy with 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 followed by 1-months-treatment using the alternative route