A Japanese approach for CKD-MBD

Disturbances in mineral and bone metabolism have a critical role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The term ‘renal osteodystrophy' has recently been replaced by ‘CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD)', which includes abnormalities in bone and mineral metabolism and vascular calcification. The Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy clinical practice guideline for the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic dialysis patients was originally published in Japanese in 2006, then in English in 2008. During the past 5 years, this first guideline has contributed to a considerably better understanding and control of secondary hyperparathyroidism in CKD patients by physicians, other medical professionals, and the patients themselves. However, since its publication several new therapeutic modalities have become available for Japanese dialysis patients, which added more evidence to this area. Thus, we revised the guideline to include several new policies, and the new guideline was published in Japanese in 2012. This article contains the new guideline text, and clinical significance of CKD-MBD in Japan.