title: Encephalopathy caused by lanthanum carbonate.
abstract: Lanthanum carbonate is a nonaluminum, noncalcium phosphate-binding agent, which is widely used in patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease. Until now, no significant side-effects have been described for the clinical use of lanthanum carbonate, and there are no available clinical data regarding its tissue stores. Here we report the case of a 59-year-old patient who was admitted with confusional syndrome. The patient received 3750 mg of lanthanum carbonate daily. Examinations were carried out, and the etiology of the encephalopathy of the patient could not be singled out. The lanthanum carbonate levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were high, and the syndrome eased after the drug was removed. The results of our study confirm that, in our case, the lanthanum carbonate did cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Although lanthanum carbonate seems a safe drug with minimal absorption, this work reveals the problem derived from the increase of serum levels of lanthanum carbonate, and the possibility that it may cross the BBB. Further research is required on the possible pathologies that increase serum levels of lanthanum carbonate, as well as the risks and side-effects derived from its absorption.
authors.affiliation: Service of Nephrology, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fraile
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology of Cancer, Cancer Research Center, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cacharro
authors.affiliation: Service of Nephrology, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garcia-Cosmes
authors.affiliation: Service of Nephrology, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Consolacion
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosado
authors.affiliation: Service of Nephrology, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Matias
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tabernero
keywords: chronic kidney disease; encephalopathy; lanthanum carbonate; phosphate-binding agent