Your ultimate osteopathy resource on the net


Chronic Kidney Disease: More Common Than You Think

Katherine, a mother of two from the suburbsThe change worked for Katherine. Instead of
of Orlando, Florida, was diagnosed with typethe 12 tablets she was taking per day on a
2 diabetes shortly after her 30th birthday.previous phosphate binder, Katherine now
Two decades later, her diabetes led to kidneytakes  fewer  than  five  tablets  a  day.
failure. Unfortunately, this scenario is not
uncommon, as diabetes is the leading cause ofThe new medication has enabled Katherine to
kidney failure in the United States,consistently maintain her phosphorus levels
accounting for nearly half of the people whowithin the recommended guidelines.
begin  treatment  each  year.Katherine's new binder also is a chewable
tablet, which she prefers, because like all
When the kidneys stop working normally, it isdialysis patients, she needs to restrict the
called chronic kidney disease (CKD). Inamount of water she drinks each day. While
Katherine's case, the disease advanced to itsKatherine has not experienced any side
most severe form, CKD Stage 5, which occurseffects related to FOSRENOL(R), her doctor
when an individual has lost at least 85did advise her that individuals taking the
percent of his or her kidney function andmedication may experience nausea or vomiting,
begins dialysis. Of the 20 million Americanswhich generally lessen over time as patients
who have some form of kidney disease, morecontinue  with  their  treatment.
than 530,000 are on dialysis. Dialysis
performs tasks that healthy kidneys do, suchThanks to dialysis, diet and her newly
as remove wastes, control excess salt andprescribed phosphate binder therapy,
water  balance,  and maintain blood pressure.Katherine is successfully managing her health
and staying active. On most days, she can be
The overall management of kidney disease isfound in her swimming pool with her children
challenging and can lead to a variety ofand  grandchildren.
additional problems. In Katherine's case, she
developed hyperphosphatemiaThis patient account reflects one person's
(hi-per-FOS-fuh-TE-me-uh)-high levels ofexperience with hyperphosphatemia, CKD Stage
phosphorus in the blood-which can lead to5 and her treatment with FOSRENOL(R). This
serious long-term health problems over time,information is not intended as a substitute
such as mineral deposits in the heart andfor  medical  advice.
blood  vessels,  bone disease and even death.
Note to Editors: Important Safety
Fortunately, there are treatments availableInformation: During clinical trials, the most
to help patients control their kidney diseasecommon side effects of FOSRENOL(R) were
and limit the impact of hyperphosphatemia.gastrointestinal, and included nausea,
Through a combination of dialysis, diet andvomiting, and diarrhea. Nausea and vomiting
phosphate binder therapy, patients can managegenerally lessened over time as patients
their phosphorus levels. In addition to goingcontinued with their treatment. Patients who
to dialysis three times a week, Katherinestopped treatment usually reported
follows a diet that limits foods high ingastrointestinal side effects as the reason
phosphorus, such as dairy products and darkfor stopping. Other side effects reported in
soda. But phosphorus is found in most foods,trials included dialysis graft complications,
so patients often cannot reach target bloodheadache, abdominal pain, and low blood
phosphorus levels through dietary restrictionpressure. Although studies were not designed
and dialysis alone. Many patients, includingto detect differences in risk of bone
Katherine, need to take phosphate binders atfracture and mortality, there were no
meals and snacks to help further controldifferences demonstrated in patients treated
their phosphorus levels. Phosphate binderswith FOSRENOL(R) compared to alternative
are prescription medications which "soak up"therapy for up to 3 years. The duration of
phosphorus in the gastrointestinal tracttreatment exposure and time of observation in
before it can be absorbed into the blood,the clinical program were too short to
thereby helping patients maintain targetconclude that FOSRENOL(R) does not affect the
blood  phosphorus  levels.risk of bone fracture or mortality beyond 3
years. While lanthanum has been shown to
Because phosphate binders need to be takenaccumulate in the GI tract, liver, and bone
with each meal, finding an effective binderin animals, the clinical significance in
that fits each individual patient's needs canhumans is unknown. If you suffer from acute
be challenging. In April 2005, a member ofstomach ulcer, colon inflammation and colon
Katherine's health care team recommended thatulcers, Crohn's disease, or bowel
she change her phosphate binder toobstruction, it is important to know that
FOSRENOL(R) because it could reduce thepatients with these conditions were not
number  of  tablets she had to take each day.included in FOSRENOL(R) clinical
studies-please discuss with your doctor.



1 A B C 50 51 52 53 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 70 71 73 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 100 101 102 103