Effect of lanthanum carbonate vs. calcium carbonate on serum calcium in hemodialysis patients: a crossover study

Abstract

Background: Lanthanum carbonate (LC) is a non-calcium-containing phosphate binder and shows a comparable effect with other phosphate binders on hyperphosphatemia in dialysis patients. LC also contributes to a reduced oral calcium load compared with calcium carbonate (CaC) treatment. However, no crossover studies which compare the influence on serum calcium level between treatments with LC and CaC in hemodialysis (HD) patients have been carried out.

Methods: After washout for 2 weeks, 50 patients on HD were randomized (1 : 1) to receive LC or CaC for 3 months. Thereafter, patients underwent a second 2-week washout period and were switched to the alternative binder for the next 3 months. Mineral and bone metabolism markers were measured with the changes of vitamin D doses.

Results: The serum phosphate level showed a similar decrease from baseline to 3 months in both groups. During the study periods, hypercalcemia was observed only in patients taking CaC. The dose of vitamin D analogue was increased more frequently in the patients of the LC group compared with LC group. The iPTH level showed a significant decrease in the CaC group, but not in the LC group. Serum levels of BAP, TRAP5b, and ALP were significantly elevated in the LC group, whereas the FGF-23 level showed a significant decrease.

Conclusion: LC effectively reduced the serum phosphate level (like CaC) and allowed the vitamin D analogue dosage to be increased without hypercalcemia in HD patients. LC is one of the useful phosphate binders without hypercalcemia. (UMIN-CTR registration number: UMIN000002331).