Multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled trial to compare early intervention with calcimimetics and conventional therapy in preventing coronary artery calcification in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (UPCOMING): a study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Coronary artery and heart valve calcification is a risk factor for cardiovascular death in haemodialysis patients, so calcification prevention should be started as early as possible. Treatment with concomitant calcimimetics and low-dose vitamin D receptor activators (VDRAs) is available, but not enough evidence has been obtained on the efficacy of this regimen, particularly in patients with short dialysis duration. Therefore, this study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of early intervention with upacicalcet, a calcimimetic used to prevent coronary artery calcification in this patient population.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This multicentre, open-label, randomised, parallel-group controlled study will compare an early intervention group, which received upacicalcet and a low-dose VDRA, with a conventional therapy group, which received a VDRA. The primary endpoint is a change in log coronary artery calcium volume score from baseline to 52 weeks. The main inclusion criteria are as follows: (1) age 18 years or older; (2) dialysis is planned or dialysis duration is less than 60 months; (3) intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) >240 pg/mL or whole PTH level>140 pg/mL; (4) serum-corrected calcium≥8.4 mg/dL and (5) Agatston score >30. The main exclusion criteria are as follows: (1) history of parathyroid intervention or fracture in the past 12 weeks; (2) history of myocardial infarction, stroke or leg amputation in the past 12 weeks; (3) history of coronary angioplasty and (4) heart failure of New York Heart Association class III or worse.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study will comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and the Japanese Clinical Trials Act. The study protocol has been approved by the Fujita Health University Certified Review Board (file no. CR22-052). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Study results will be presented in academic meetings and peer-reviewed academic journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: jRCTs041220126.