Bicarbonate levels in hemodialysis patients switching from lanthanum carbonate to sucroferric oxyhydroxide

AIM: To examine possible alterations in acid-base parameters in patients switching from lanthanum carbonate (LanC) to sucroferric oxyhydroxide (SFOH). METHODS: Fifteen stable hemodialysis patients were switched from LanC to SFOH. Only nine continued on SFOH, three returned to LanC and the other three switched to sevelamer carbonate. The later six patients served as a control group to the SFOH group of nine patients. Blood was sampled on the 3-d and the last 2-d interval of the week prior to switching and six weeks after. Bicarbonate levels (HCO(3)(-)), pH, pO(2), pCO(2) were measured, and the mean of the two measurements (3-d and 2-d interval) was calculated. RESULTS: Comparing pre-switching to post-switching measurements in the SFOH group, no statistically significant differences were found in any of the parameters studied. The mean pre-switching HCO(3)(-) was 22.41 ± 1.66 mmol/L and the mean post-switching was 22.62 ± 2.25 mmol/L (P = 0.889). Respectively, the mean pH= 7.38 ± 0.03 vs 7.39 ± 0.03 (P = 0.635), mean pCO(2)= 38.41 ± 3.29 vs 38.37 ± 3.62 mmHg (P = 0.767), and Phosphate = 1.57 ± 0.27 vs 1.36 ± 0.38mmol/L (P = 0.214). There were not any significant differences when we performed the same analyses in the control group or between the SFOH group and control group. No correlations were found, either between pre-switching LanC daily dose or between post-switching daily dose of the new binder and the measured parameters. CONCLUSION: In our small study, switching from LanC to SFOH did not have any significant effect on blood bicarbonate levels and gas analysis, indicating that there is no need to change hemodialysis prescription regarding these parameters.