Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and to explore the effects of active vitamin D preparation on micro-inflammation, erythropoietin responsiveness and anemia. Methods We assayed serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) level in MHD patients treated in our dialysis center, and then investigated the MHD patients with serum 25(OH) D3 ≤30 ng/ml. Seventy- four patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and were randomly divided into two groups: the treatment group (calcitriol 0.25μg every night for 12 weeks; n=37) and the control group (placebo for 12 weeks; n=37). Age, sex ratio, MHD duration, primary renal disease and laboratory parameters were comparable between the two groups. Blood hemoglobin (HGB), dose of erythropoietin (EPO), high-sensitivity C-reaction protein (hs-CRP) and 25(OH)D3 level were measured before and after the treatment. Results ① In the treatment group after the treatment for 12 weeks, HGB increased from 117.25±10.94 g/L to 122.72± 11.16 g/L (P＜0.05), hs-CRP decreased from 4.38±4.15mg/L to 2.92±1.77mg/L (P＜0.05), and EPO dose also decreased but without statistical significance. ② After the treatment for 12 weeks, hs-CRP was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (2.92±1.77mg/L vs. 4.48±3.93mg/L, P＜0.05). HGB was higher in the treatment group than in the control group and EPO dose reduced more in the treatment group than in the control group but without statistical significances (for HGB, 122.72 ±11.16 g/L vs. 118.53± 9.56 g/L, P＞0.05; for EPO dose, 7694.44±3615.10 IU/w vs. 8666.67±4708.66 IU/w, P＞0.05). Conclusions Supplement of calcitriol can improve micro-inflammation, anemia, and EPO responsiveness in MHD patients.

Key words: micro-inflammation, anemia, 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3, maintenance hemodialysis