Phosphate Binder Does Not Improve Heart Health of Patients with Early CKD.

A recent randomized placebo-controlled JASN study of 120 patients with early stage CKD found no benefit to 40 weeks of treatment with the phosphate binder sevelamer carbonate, which is approved only for patients with kidney failure, for reducing heart muscle thickness and decreasing markers of blood vessel stiffness. Because only 56% of patients took more than 80% of the study medication, the subgroup of patients with more than 80% compliance was analyzed separately. Patients in the subgroup who took sevelamer excreted significantly smaller amounts of phosphate in their urine compared with those taking placebo. The sevelamer group also had reduced levels of FGF-23.