Switching from calcium carbonate to sevelamer hydrochloride has suppressive effects on the progression of aortic calcification in hemodialysis patients: assessment using plain chest X-ray films.
Sevelamer hydrochloride, a non-aluminum- and non-calcium-containing hydrogel, is an effective phosphate binder in dialysis patients. The suppressive effect of the switching from calcium carbonate to sevelamer hydrochloride on the progression of vascular calcification was examined by measuring areas of calcification on routine chest X-rays using image-analyzing software. The data of 69 maintenance hemodialysis patients were analyzed retrospectively. Over a period of 18 months, 19 patients took only sevelamer hydrochloride as a phosphate binder, while the other 50 patients took only calcium carbonate. The area of calcification increased in the calcium carbonate group, but did not change significantly in the sevelamer group. While the usefulness of computed tomography in detecting vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients has been reported previously, the suppressive effects of switching from calcium carbonate to sevelamer hydrochloride on the progression of aortic calcification can be observed without computed tomography by using the plain chest X-ray films that are routinely performed in hemodialysis clinics.
Izumi
Masaaki
M
Division of Kidney and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Hyogo, Japan. izumi@kanrou.net
Morita
Syunpei
S
Nishian
Yoshihiko
Y
Miyamoto
Takashi
T
Kasumoto
Hiroomi
H
Oue
Mai
M
Hori
Kahori
K
Kitamura
Rie
R
Yamamoto
Satoshi
S
Nakanishi
Takeshi
T
D000368:Aged; D000863:Antacids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011073:Polyamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069603:Sevelamer
D000863:Antacids; D002614:Chelating Agents; D011073:Polyamines; D000069603:Sevelamer; D002119:Calcium Carbonate