placebo + calcitriol

Placebo + calcitriol refers to a specific treatment arm in clinical research, most notably in the Phase 3 trial NCT00000412 sponsored by Columbia University. This arm consists of active calcitriol (the biologically active form of vitamin D3) administered alongside a placebo for a comparator drug (such as alendronate). Calcitriol, also known by the brand name Rocaltrol, is a secosteroid hormone that acts as a potent agonist of the vitamin D receptor (VDR). By binding to VDR, it regulates calcium and phosphate homeostasis, suppresses parathyroid hormone levels, and promotes bone mineralization. In the context of cardiac transplantation, this regimen was investigated to prevent the rapid bone loss and subsequent osteoporosis that often occurs in the first year post-transplant due to high-dose corticosteroid and immunosuppressant use.

Brand names

Rocaltrol

Other names

1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3calcitriol