A Comparison Between the Effects of Calcium Acetate and Sevelamer Carbonate on Progression of Aortic Vascular Calcification in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 4 and 5

Calcium-based and non-calcium-based phosphate binders are frequently used to treat hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

This study aimed to compare the effects of calcium acetate and sevelamer carbonate on the progression of aortic vascular calcification in patients with CKD stages 4 and 5.

This was an open-label randomized prospective comparative study, in which the participants encompassed both male and female patients with ambulatory hyperphosphatemic CKD stages 4 and 5 aged above 18 years. One hundred fifty patients with CKD stages 4 and 5 were screened for Aortic vascular calcification using digital X-ray lumbar spine and multi-slice CT scan, of whom fifty patients with vascular calcification were selected and randomly assigned into two groups. The participants were then serially studied for the effects of phosphate binders on the progression of vascular calcification over one year. One group was prescribed calcium acetate, and the other group was prescribed sevelamer carbonate.

Fifty hyperphosphatemic CKD patients with a mean age of 57 years were randomly assigned into two groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups; however, the patients assigned to the sevelamer group were older and higher aortic calcification index (ACI) (P = 0.035) and Kauppila scores (P = 0.04), and elevated serum calcium (P = 0.04), Ca X PO4 (P = 0.006), and vitamin D. In calcium acetate-treated patients, the mean ACI increased significantly during six months and one year; however, the increase was not significant in the sevelamer group. Serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum iPTH level, and the inflammatory markers of atherosclerosis-high sensitivity of C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), decreased significantly in the sevelamer group.

The prevalence of vascular (abdominal aortic) calcification in pre-ESRD (CKD stage 4 and 5) patients was 75%. Abdominal aortic calcification increased significantly in calcium acetate-treated patients during six months and one year; however, the progression was not significant regarding sevelamer. Because of its pleiotropic properties, sevelamer is more effective and consistent in retarding the progression of vascular calcification than calcium acetate in patients with CKD stages 4 and 5.