Method for treating and preventing hyperparathyroidism

A method for achieving an effect in a patient comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a vitamin D analog of formula (I):

• ##STR3## wherein A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 are either hydrogen or taken together, form 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 the effect is lowering or maintaining lowered serum parathyroid hormone levels, in a patient in need thereof and thus decreasing loss of bone mass or bone mineral content.

A method of treating a human to alleviate or prevent the pathological effects of hyperparathyroidism, wherein the method comprises administering to the human in need thereof a vitamin D analog selected from the group consisting of 1.alpha.-OH-vitamin D.sub.2 ;

• 1.alpha.-OH-vitamin D.sub.4 ;
• and 1.alpha.,24(R)-(OH).sub.2 -vitamin D.sub.4 wherein said analog is administered to the human in an amount sufficient to lower or maintain lowered serum parathyroid hormone levels in said human to thereby alleviate or prevent the effects.

A method for lowering or maintaining lowered serum parathyroid hormone in human patients suffering from secondary hyperparathyroidism, 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):
• ##STR4## 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.