Ricerc@Sapienza

Hypocalcaemia is a well-known effect of the treatment of
secondary hyperparathyroidism when using calcimimetics.
In a retrospective, observational, study, which was published
recently in this Journal [1], Louie et al. investigated
the frequency, predictors, and consequences of cinacalcetinduced
hypocalcaemia in a cohort of over one thousand
haemodialysis patients. They found that hypocalcaemia
occurred in more than two third of the treated patients
and was mild in many cases. Nonetheless, in one third it
was moderate (1.87– < 2.0 mmol/L; 23%) or even severe
(< 1.87 mmol/L; 9%). These results coming from a “realworld”
setting raise questions on the true potentially negative
impact of hypocalcaemia per se or of its treatment,
including the increase of dialysate calcium concentration.