title: Oral calcium carbonate as phosphate-binder in infants and children with chronic renal failure.
abstract: In view of the known toxicity of aluminum, we studied the effects of CaCO3 as an alternative phosphate binder in 12 chronic renal failure (CRF) children during 152 patient-months. Mean (+/- SD) serum creatinine concentration rose during that period from 3.7 +/- 1.8 to 5.1 +/- 3.0 mg/dl. 8 patients received CaCO3 from the start, and 4 were switched from A1(OH)3 after 2 months of interruption. In addition to CaCO3 (0.1-0.3 mg/kg BW) all patients received NaHCO3, and all but two received 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha(OH)D3] or dihydrotachysterol (DHT). Urine and blood variables were checked every 4-6 weeks and medication dosages were adjusted accordingly, aiming to keep serum Ca at 10.4-10.8 mg/dl, serum Pi at 3.5-5.5 mg/dl, and serum HCO-3 above 18 mEq/l. Bone X-rays were obtained every 6-9 months. With treatment, mean serum Ca increased from 8.9 +/- 0.7 to 10.3 +/- 0.4 mg/dl (p less than 0.01), serum Pi decreased from 6.3 +/- 0.9 to 4.2 +/- 0.5 mg/dl (p less than 0.01), and the mean Ca X P product decreased slightly and insignificantly. Mean serum alkaline phosphatase levels decreased significantly from 486 +/- 251 to 168 +/- 28 IU (p less than 0.01). Bone X-rays at the end of the study showed either healing of renal osteodystrophy or its prevention. Only one episode of mild hypercalcemia (serum Ca 11.7 mg/dl) was observed in 1 patient, but his Ca X P product remained low.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D002119:Calcium Carbonate