Marked increase in bone formation markers after cinacalcet treatment by mechanisms distinct from hungry bone syndrome in a haemodialysis patient

A 59-year-old female who was on dialysis due to diabetic nephropathy was referred to our hospital for severe hyperparathyroidism refractory to intravenous vitamin D receptor activator treatment. With subsequent cinacalcet hydrochloride treatment, parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were only slightly suppressed. However, progressive increases were observed in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) levels with mild hypocalcaemia. A bone biopsy, obtained immediately before surgical parathyroidectomy after 3 months of cinacalcet treatment, revealed no disappearance of osteoclasts. These data suggest that cinacalcet hydrochloride treatment may induce a marked promotion of bone formation by mechanisms distinct from hungry bone syndrome that usually develops after parathyroidectomy.