Original Article Renal function and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations predict parathyroid hormone levels in renal transplant patients

Background. Recent guidelines suggest supplementa-tion with ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) in chronic kidney disease stages 3 and 4 patients with elevated parathyr-oid hormone (PTH) levels and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels <75 nmol/l. These guidelines are also applied to renal transplant patients. However, the prevalence rates of 25OHD deficiency and its associa-tion with PTH levels in renal transplant populations have not been extensively examined. We aimed to document the prevalence rates of 25OHD deficiency [defined by serum levels <40 nmol/l (<16 ng/ml)] and insufficiency [<75 nmol/l (<30 ng/ml)] in a single renal transplant centre, and examine its relationship with PTH levels