Vitamin D: a new player in kidney transplantation?. (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ponticelli, Claudio; Sala, Gabriele
• Is Part Of: Expert review of clinical immunology. Volume 10:Number 10(2014)
• Page Start: 1375
• Page End: 1383
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: Clinical immunology -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1586/1744666X.2014.949674
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-666X

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Vitamin D is a hormone with pleiotropic effects. It mainly regulates calcium and phosphate metabolism through interactions with FGF23 and its receptor klotho. In addition, it has been shown that Vitamin D also regulates the immune response and has protective effects from cardiovascular disease, cancer and infections. Most renal transplant recipients have overt Vitamin D deficiency, a condition that may be associated with a decline in graft function and other complications. After kidney transplantation, elevated levels of FGF23 may predict increased risks of death and allograft loss. Theoretically, an optimal Vitamin D supplementation might favor operational tolerance and protect transplant recipients from the triad cardiovascular disease-cancer-infection. However, more solid data are needed to confirm this and to set the optimal level of serum Vitamin D supplementation in order to attain the best clinical outcome.</p> </abstract>