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Calcimimetics—fooling the calcium receptor

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Abstract

The cloning and characterization of a calcium-sensing receptor from bovine parathyroid cells has opened up the possibility of modulating the activity of this receptor protein by organic small molecules, either increasing the sensitivity for calcium (calcimimetics) or decreasing the sensitivity (calciolytics), thus suppressing or stimulating parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion and synthesis, respectively. In primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism, calcimimetics have proven to effectively lower the PTH concentration with minimal side effects. In secondary hyperparathyroidism, a specific advantage is the concomitant lowering of serum calcium and phosphate concentrations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Ruperto-Carola University, Bergheimer Strasse 56a, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany

    Eberhard Ritz

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  1. Eberhard Ritz
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Correspondence to Eberhard Ritz.

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Ritz, E. Calcimimetics—fooling the calcium receptor. Pediatr Nephrol 20, 15–18 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-004-1671-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-004-1671-1

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