The aim of the present work was to reveal the relationship between vitamin A serum levels and some indicators of metabolic calcium and phosphorus disorders in patients in a long-term dialyzation programme. Thirty-six patients in a long-term dialyzation programme were divided into three groups. Group A comprised 11 patients who were treated for 3-9 months but without specific treatment, group B was formed by 10 patients treated for 2-5 years who were given calcium carbonate, 3 g/24 h, by the oral route for a period of six months and group C which comprised 15 patients treated for 3-10 years who were given 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (Rocaltrol), 0.25 micrograms/24 h for a period of six months. At the end of the investigation a significant rise of total calcium and serum Ca2+ occurred in all three groups of patients an a significant decrease of increased value of phosphorus, C-PTH and vitamin A in serum in groups B and C. In group A which was without treatment there was a significant increase of serum C-PTH and vitamin A after six months. The concentration of retinyl esters in serum was within the reference range of there were undetectable values throughout the investigation in all patients. A direct relationship was found between total calcium and vitamin A, alkaline phosphatase and C-PTH in serum in all 36 patients at the onset of the dialyzation programme. Moreover there was a direct relationship between C-PTH and vitamin A in groups, A, B and C at the onset of the investigation and in groups and vitamin C at the end of the investigation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Keywords: Calcitriol /therapeutic use/; Calcium Carbonate /therapeutic use/; Calcium Metabolism Disorders /blood/; Humans; Phosphorus Metabolism Disorders /blood/; Renal Dialysis /adverse effects/; Vitamin A /blood/