Objective To investigate the efficacy of calcitriol injection for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods A total of 30 MHD cases with elevated serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were randomly enrolled in this study. The dosage of 1,25(OH)2D3 was determined by the pre-therapeutic serum iPTH level. After the 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment for 0, 2, 4 and 8 weeks, serum iPTH, calcium and phosphorus were measured, and the remission degree of clinical symptoms were observed. Results (a) Before treatment, serum iPTH of the 30 patients was 1218±295pg/ml. After the therapy for 8 weeks, iPTH decreased to 437±152pg/ml, and iPTH became in the normal range in 86.7% patients. (b) Some patients experienced a transient increase of serum phosphate during the treatment period, with the hyperphosphataemia incidence to 40%, while there was no significant increase of serum calcium level. (c) Clinical symptoms such as osteodynia, myasthenia of limbs, itch of skin and arthralgia improved to various degrees, and 76.7% patients showed the improvement. Conclusion Calcitriol injection therapy is safe and efficient for MHD patients with SHPT, but its long-term effects and safety need to be further observed.