Doxercalciferol (or 1-hydroxyergocalciferol, trade name Hectorol) is drug for

secondary hyperparathyroidism Secondary hyperparathyroidism is the medical condition of excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by the parathyroid glands in response to hypocalcemia (low blood calcium levels), with resultant hyperplasia of these glands. This disorde ...

and

metabolic bone disease Metabolic bone disease is an abnormality of bones caused by a broad spectrum of disorders. Most commonly these disorders are caused by deficiencies of minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium or vitamin D leading to dramatic clinical disord ...

. It is a synthetic analog of

ergocalciferol Ergocalciferol, also known as vitamin D2 and nonspecifically calciferol, is a type of vitamin D found in food and used as a dietary supplement. As a supplement it is used to prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency. This includes vitamin D defici ...

(vitamin D₂). It suppresses

parathyroid Parathyroid glands are small endocrine glands in the neck of humans and other tetrapods. Humans usually have four parathyroid glands, located on the back of the thyroid gland in variable locations. The parathyroid gland produces and secretes pa ...

synthesis and secretion. Docercalciferol is the vitamin D₂ analogue of

alfacalcidol Alfacalcidol (or 1-hydroxycholecalciferol) is an analogue of vitamin D used for supplementation in humans and as a poultry feed additive. Alfacalcidol has a weaker impact on calcium metabolism and parathyroid hormone levels than calcitriol, howev ...

. It undergoes 25-hydroxylation in the

liver The liver is a major organ only found in vertebrates which performs many essential biological functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the synthesis of proteins and biochemicals necessary for digestion and growth. In humans, it ...

to become the active ercalcitriol, without the involvement of kidneys.

References

Secosteroids Diols Vitamin D Sanofi {{systemic-hormonal-drug-stub