High iPTH Raises Hyperphosphatemia Risk

SAN DIEGO—High serum levels of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and dietary protein intake are associated with an increased risk of hyperphosphatemia in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), investigators reported at Kidney Week 2012.

A study of 69,355 MHD patients found that, compared with patients with iPTH levels of at least 150 but less than 300 pg/mL and a normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) of at least 1.0 but less than 1.2 g/kg/day, patients with an iPTH level above 600 pg/mL and nPCR greater than 1.2 g/kg/day had a threefold greater risk of hyperphosphatemia.

The investigators led by Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh, MD, PhD, MPH, formerly with the University of California-Los Angeles but now with the University of California-Irvine, concluded that dietary interventions and correction of hyperparathyroidism should be considered in hyperphosphatemia management.