Four microgrammes of 1-alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol (1-alpha-OH D3) or 200 mug of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH D3) were given orally every other day respectively to 10 uraemic patients (8 on chronic haemodialysis) for 1-12 weeks and to 3 patients on chronic haemodialysis for 4-8 weeks. A transilial bone biopsy and serial evaluation of serum immunoreactive PTH (iPTH) calcium phosphate and alkaline phosphatase were performed before and at the end of therapy. Both 1-alpha-OH D3 and 25-OH D3 (the latter at a 50 times higher dose) were able to depress hyperparathyroidism in two-thirds of the cases and to consistently improve the mineralisation defect. In no case did iPTH or the bone histomorphometric parameters return to normal, so that long term evaluation of these two drugs is warranted.