Management of hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease
Savica, V.; Santoro, D.; Monardo, P.; Mallamace, A.; Bellinghieri, G.
Giornale Italiano di Nefrologia Organo Ufficiale Della Societa Italiana di Nefrologia 26(Suppl 46): 58-61
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 0393-5590 PMID: 19644820 Document Number: 633015
Hyperphosphatemia is a common finding in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis or receiving conservative treatment. Recent papers have reported a link between hyperphosphatemia, soft tissue calcifications, and cardiovascular events responsible for high morbidity and mortality in these patients. Our group identified in salivary phosphate secretion a method to study the phosphate balance in CKD. Moreover, we found that CKD patients on hemodialysis usually drink beverages with a high phosphate content that may increase their serum phosphorus levels. Hyperphosphatemia is currently treated with diet, phosphate-binding drugs, and drugs acting on bone metabolism. Despite such treatment, only half of the patients with end-stage renal disease fall within the K/DOQI guidelines range for serum phosphorus levels. This paper reports positive results obtained with the use of the polymer chitosan as a phosphatebinding chewing gum in CKD patients undergoing periodic hemodialysis.