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Alastair Hutchison

Publications and source records attributed to Alastair Hutchison.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

A multicenter study on the effects of lanthanum carbonate (Fosrenol) and calcium carbonate on renal bone disease in dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Lanthanum carbonate (LC) (Fosrenol) is a novel new treatment for hyperphosphatemia. In this phase III, open-label study, we compared the effects of LC and calcium carbonate (CC) on the evolution of renal osteodystrophy (ROD) in dialysis patients. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients were randomized to LC (N = 49) or CC (N = 49). Bone biopsies were taken at baseline and after one year of treatment. Acceptable paired biopsies were available for static and dynamic histomorphometry studies in 33 LC and 30 CC patients. Blood samples were taken at regular intervals for biochemical analysis and adverse events were monitored. RESULTS: LC was well tolerated and serum phosphate levels were well controlled in both treatment groups. The incidence of hypercalcemia was lower in the LC group (6% vs. 49% for CC). At baseline, subtypes of ROD were similarly distributed in both groups, with mixed ROD being most common. At one-year follow-up in the LC group, 5 of 7 patients with baseline low bone turnover (either adynamic bone or osteomalacia), and 4 of 5 patients with baseline hyperparathyroidism, had evolved toward a normalization of their bone turnover. Only one lanthanum-treated patient evolved toward adynamic bone compared with 6 patients in the CC group. In the LC group, the number of patients having either adynamic bone, osteomalacia, or hyperpara decreased overall from 12 (36%) at baseline to 6 (18%), while in the calcium group, the number of patients with these types of ROD increased from 13 (43%) to 16 (53%). CONCLUSION: LC is a poorly absorbed, well-tolerated, and efficient phosphate binder. LC-treated dialysis patients show almost no evolution toward low bone turnover over one year (unlike CC-treated patients), nor do they experience any aluminum-like effects on bone.

Adult↗

Hyperphosphataemia in renal failure: causes, consequences and current management.

Hyperphosphataemia is prevalent among chronic renal failure and dialysis patients. It is known to stimulate parathyroid hormone and suppress vitamin D3 production, thereby inducing hyperparathyroid bone disease. In addition, it may independently contribute to cardiac causes of death through increased myocardial calcification and enhanced vascular calcification. Hyperphosphataemia is also associated with cardiac microcirculatory abnormalities. Therefore, phosphate control is of prime importance. It is important to control phosphate levels early in the course of chronic renal failure in order to avoid and treat secondary hyperparathyroidism, and cardiovascular and soft tissue calcifications. Dietetic restrictions are often difficult to follow long term. Because of its large sphere of hydration and the complex kinetics of phosphate elimination, phosphate is not easily removed by dialysis. Long, slow dialysis may be effective, but this needs logistics and acceptance by patients. Thus, oral phosphate binders are generally required to control serum levels. None of the existing phosphate binding agents is truly satisfactory. Aluminium-containing agents are highly efficient but many clinicians have abandoned their use because of the potential toxicity. Despite of the wide use of calcium-containing agents, there was a link with hypercalcaemia and soft tissue calcifications. Novel phosphate binders in the form of polyallylamine hydrochloride, polyuronic acid derivatives and lanthanum carbonate appear promising. In this review, we discuss causes of hyperphosphataemia, pathological consequences and modalities of treatment.

Aluminum↗

Dialysis therapies for end-stage renal disease.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) has various causes that may differ according to country and racial group. Whatever the cause, unless the water, salt, electrolytes, and waste products excreted by normal kidneys are removed, their accumulation will result in death. Removal of these products can be variably achieved by either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. The principles and outcomes of these techniques are described, as are their complications. It is important that these two different methods of treatment are not regarded as competitive, but are integrated, together with renal transplantation where appropriate, into the management of patients with ESRD to optimize both outcome and quality of life.

Female↗

Decrease in infections with the introduction of mupirocin cream at the peritoneal dialysis catheter exit site.

UNLABELLED: Staphylococcus aureus associated peritonitis and catheter exit site infections (ESI) are an important cause of hospitalization and catheter loss in the patients undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD). We aimed to determine the potential effectiveness of the application of mupirocin cream at the catheter exit site in preventing exit site infection and peritonitis. METHODS: This prospective historically controlled study was done in a total of 86 patients who entered our PD program from April 1999 to January 2001. They were instructed to apply Mupirocin cream 2% to the exit site daily or on alternate days. The patients were not screened to determine whether they were staphylococcus aureus carriers. One hundred and thirteen patients on PD prior to April 1999 acted as historical controls. Both groups were followed prospectively for a period of 22 months. RESULTS: In the study group application of mupirocin lead to a significant reduction in the incidence rate of both exit site infections overall (0.43 vs. 0.09; p<0.0001) and ESI due staphylococcus aureus (0.14 vs. 0.02; p=0.004) amounting to a relative reduction of 79% and 85% respectively. Although the overall incidence of peritonitis did not change (0.28 vs. 0.26; p=0.7) there was a significant reduction in peritonitis caused by staphylococcus aureus (0.07 vs. 0; p=0.01) Although only one catheter required removal in the mupirocin group as against 5 in the control group, this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Mupirocin application at the exit site significantly lowers the incidence of ESI and peritonitis caused by staphylococcus aureus without any significant side effects.

Adult↗