Sevelamer attenuates the progression of coronary and aortic calcification in hemodialysis patients.
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular disease is frequent and severe in patients with end-stage renal disease. Disorders of mineral metabolism may contribute by promoting cardiovascular calcification.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized clinical trial comparing sevelamer, a non-absorbed polymer, with calcium-based phosphate binders in 200 hemodialysis patients. Study outcomes included the targeted concentrations of serum phosphorus, calcium, and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), and calcification of the coronary arteries and thoracic aorta using a calcification score derived from electron beam tomography.


RESULTS
Sevelamer and calcium provided equivalent control of serum phosphorus (end-of-study values 5.1 +/- 1.2 and 5.1 +/- 1.4 mg/dL, respectively, P = 0.33). Serum calcium concentration was significantly higher in the calcium-treated group (P = 0.002), and hypercalcemia was more common (16% vs. 5% with sevelamer, P = 0.04). More subjects in the calcium group had end-of-study intact PTH below the target of 150 to 300 pg/mL (57% vs. 30%, P = 0.001). At study completion, the median absolute calcium score in the coronary arteries and aorta increased significantly in the calcium treated subjects but not in the sevelamer-treated subjects (coronary arteries 36.6 vs. 0, P = 0.03 and aorta 75.1 vs. 0, P = 0.01, respectively). The median percent change in coronary artery (25% vs. 6%, P = 0.02) and aortic (28% vs. 5%, P = 0.02) calcium score also was significantly greater with calcium than with sevelamer.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with calcium-based phosphate binders, sevelamer is less likely to cause hypercalcemia, low levels of PTH, and progressive coronary and aortic calcification in hemodialysis patients.
Chertow
Glenn M
GM
Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Burke
Steven K
SK
Raggi
Paolo
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011073:Polyamines; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000069603:Sevelamer
D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D011073:Polyamines; D011095:Polyethylenes; D000069603:Sevelamer; D002118:Calcium