Abstract:Objective To observe the effect of calcium combined with active vitamin D on bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with kidney diseases receving initial glucocorticoid therapy. Methods Seventy-eight patients with kidney diseases treated with glucocorticoids were divided into two groups according to the dosage of glucocorticoids: low dose group (group A) and high dose group (group B). Each group was further divided into two small groups according to different therapeutic regimen (group A was divided into A1, A2 and group B was divided into B1, B2). Group A1 received alcium acetate capsule 600 mg, group A2 and group B1 received calcium acetate capsule 600 mg combined with calcitriol 0.25 μg, and B2 group received calcium acetate capsule 1200 mg combined with calcitriol 0.5 μg. BMD of lumbar vertebrae L1 ~ 4 6 and 12 months after treatment were collected and analysed, meanwhile, pain scores of lumbar and back and adverse reactions were recorded. Results 12 months compared to 6 months after treatment, BMD in group A1 significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and no similar differences were observed in group A2 (P > 0.05). BMD was significantly higher in group A2 than that in group A1 12 months after treatment (P < 0.05). 12 months compared to that 6 months after treatment, BMD in group B1 significantly decreased (P < 0.05) and it significantly increased in group B1 (P < 0.05). No similar differences were observed between both groups (P > 0.05) and BMD in group B2 was significantly higher than that in group B1 after 12-month treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusions For patients with kidney diseases receiving low dose glucocorticoid therapy, daily supplementation of active vitamin D 0.25 μg combined with calcium acetate capsule 600 mg work effectively in preventing bone loss. For those who use high dose glucocorticoid, the daily treatment of active vitamin D 0.5 μg and calcium acetate capsule 1200 mg is not enough to prevent bone loss.