HYPERPHOSPHATEMIA IN HAEMODIALYZED PATIENTS

Abstract

Dietary regulation of serum phosphate levels is one of the most important therapies for the haemodialyzed patients.This is particularly difficult to apply since these patients must take huge amount of animal proteins that contain a large quantity of phosphate. However, a diet with a small amount of phosphate is required. This guideline is difficult to be implemented because patients get at least 50% of their phosphate from sources that are not obvious and from foods that are easily processed and preserved. In this retrospective study, serum levels of phosphate, calcium and parathyroid hormone were assessed in 123 haemodialyzed patients to determine their levels and differences, depending on age. Patients were grouped into two according to their age. Group A included those who were ≤ 70 years old (n = 55, 29M/26F),and Group B were those > 71 years old (n = 68,39M/29F).Higher phosphate levels were found in Group A with a statistically significant level of p < 0.0001, while overall serum phosphate levels of 47% of patients were below 4.6 mg/dl.Elderly patients with more diabetics (Group B) had lower serum phosphate levels than the younger ones (Group A).Thus, a large percentage of our patients have satisfactory serum phosphate levels, and the younger ones have less satisfactory phosphate levels,compared with the elderly.