Method for treating and preventing secondary hyperparathyroidism

A method of treating a human to alleviate or prevent the pathological effects of hyperparathyroidism secondary to end stage renal disease, wherein the method comprises administering orally to said human, in need thereof, a vitamin D analog which is 1.alpha.,25-(OH).sub.2 -vitamin D.sub.4 wherein said compound is administered to said human in an amount sufficient to lower serum parathyroid hormone levels as measured by blood serum level of parathyroid hormone over time after ingestion in said human to thereby alleviate or prevent said effects.

A method for lowering or maintaining lowered serum parathyroid hormone in human patients suffering from hyperparathyroidism secondary to end stage renal disease, comprising:

• administering to said patients an effective amount of a vitamin D analog to lower and maintain lowered serum parathyroid hormone levels, said analog comprising formula (I):
• ##STR2## wherein A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 are either hydrogen or a carbon-carbon double bond between C-22 and C-23;
• and R.sup.1 is hydrogen or hydroxyl provided that when A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 are a double bond, R.sup.1 is hydrogen, and wherein said analog is administered in combination with at least one agent characterized by said agent's ability to reduce loss of bone mass or bone mineral content in the patients.