CALCIUM ACETATE VERSUS CALCIUM-CARBONATE AS PHOSPHORUS BINDERS IN PATIENTS ON CHRONIC-HEMODIALYSIS - A CONTROLLED-STUDY

The first reported double-blind cross-over comparison between the phos phorus binders calcium carbonate and calcium acetate was undertaken in 15 stable patients on chronic maintenance haemodialysis. Detailed reg istration of diet and analysis of the protein catabolic rate suggested an unchanged phosphorus intake during the study. It was found that pr edialytic serum phosphate concentration was significantly decreased by 0.11 mmol/l (0.34 mg/dl) (P= 0.021, 95% confidence limits 0.02-0.21 m mol/l; 0.06-0.65 mg/dl) during calcium acetate treatment. The calcium phosphate product was insignificantly decreased during treatment with calcium acetate whereas we could not exclude the possibility that calc ium concentration had increased.