Effect of lanthanum carbonate and calcium acetate in the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients of chronic kidney disease

OBJECTIVES The tolerability and efficacy of lanthanum carbonate has not been studied in the Indian population. This study was, therefore, undertaken to compare the efficacy and tolerability of lanthanum carbonate with calcium acetate in patients with stage 4 chronic kidney disease. DESIGN A randomized open label two group cross-over study. MATERIALS AND METHODS Following Institutional Ethics Committee approval and valid consent, patients with stage 4 chronic kidney disease were randomized to receive either lanthanum carbonate 500mg thrice daily or calcium acetate 667 mg thrice daily for 4 weeks. After a 4-week washout period, the patients were crossed over for another 4 weeks. Serum phosphorous, serum calcium, serum alkaline phosphatase, and serum creatinine were estimated at fixed intervals. RESULTS Twenty-six patients were enrolled in the study. The mean serum phosphorous concentrations showed a declining trend with lanthanum carbonate (from pre-drug levels of 7.88 +/- 1.52 mg/dL-7.14 +/- 1.51 mg/dL) and calcium acetate (from pre-drug levels of 7.54 +/- 1.39 mg/dL-6.51 +/- 1.38 mg/dL). A statistically significant difference was seen when comparing the change in serum calcium produced by these drugs (P < 0.05). Serum calcium levels increased with calcium acetate (from pre-drug levels of 7.01 +/- 1.07-7.46 +/- 0.74 mg dL), while it decreased with lanthanum carbonate (from pre-drug levels 7.43 +/- 0.77-7.14 +/- 0.72 mg/dL). The incidence of adverse effects was greater with lanthanum carbonate. CONCLUSION Lanthanum carbonate and calcium acetate are equally effective phosphate binders with trends obvious in the first 4 weeks of therapy. The decrease in serum calcium levels with lanthanum carbonate when compared to the increase in serum calcium levels due to calcium acetate is statistically significant. The drawback of lanthanum carbonate is its high cost and relatively higher incidence of adverse events during treatment.