Effect of Paricalcitol on Markers of Inflammation in De Novo Renal Transplant Recipients
1Department of Surgery, Inflammation Medicine and Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway, 2Institiute for Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Meeting: 2019 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: C186
Keywords: Fibrosis, Inflammation
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session C: Kidney: Cardiovascular and Metabolic
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Monday, June 3, 2019
Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Hall C & D
*Purpose: Despite the reduction of systemic inflammation associated with receiving a functioning transplant, markers of inflammation may remain somewhat elevated in renal transplant recipients, and associations between hsCRP and interleukine-6 and major cardiovascular events, as well as all-cause mortality have been demonstrated. Vitamin D-receptor activation has been postulated to play a role in the regulation of inflammation and endothelial function.We investigated if treatment with a synthetic vitamin D agonist, paricalcitol, might reduce circulating levels of markers of inflammation, angiogenesis, fibrogenesis and leukocyte activation.
*Methods: 77 newly transplanted renal transplant recipients participated in an open-label randomized controlled trial comparing paricalcitol with no treatment for the reduction of proteinuria. As a secondary endpoint, inflammatory markers were analyzed at time of inclusion and at study end, 8 weeks and 1 year after transplantation, respectively. Changes in plasma concentrations of in total 16 different biomarkers of general inflammation, leucocyte activation, endothelial activation/damage and fibrosis pathways were calculated, and differences between treatment groups were evaluated by T-test and Mann Whitney U-test as found appropriate.
*Results: Paricalcitol increased osteoprotegerin levels in patients treated with paricalcitol, and the increase was significant compared with the untreated patients: p= 0.035, comparing change in plasma level from 8 weeks to 1 year after transplant. Otherwise, there were no significant differences between treatment groups in any of the biomarkers. Nor were there any differences between treatment groups in absolute levels of the markers at study end.
*Conclusions: Treatment with paricalcitol in de novo kidney transplant recipients increased circulating levels of the osteoprotegerin, a molecule known to modulate calcification processes in the vasculature. Inflammatory- and profibrotic pathways were not otherwise affected in magnitudes measurable by changes in circulating biomarkers.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Pihlstrøm HK, Ueland T, Michelsen AE, Mjøen G, Midtvedt K, Holdaas H. Effect of Paricalcitol on Markers of Inflammation in De Novo Renal Transplant Recipients [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2019; 19 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/effect-of-paricalcitol-on-markers-of-inflammation-in-de-novo-renal-transplant-recipients/. Accessed June 7, 2025.« Back to 2019 American Transplant Congress