LANTHANUM CARBONATE IS A PHOSPHATE BINDER USED FOR HYPERPHOSPHATAEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE. IT IS GIVEN BY MOUTH AS THE HYDRATE, BUT DOSES ARE EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF ELEMENTAL LANTHANUM.
PATIENTS WITH END STAGE RENAL DISEASE (ESRD) CAN DEVELOP HYPERPHOSPHATEMIA THAT MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH SECONDARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM AND ELEVATED CALCIUM PHOSPHATE PRODUCT. ELEVATED CALCIUM PHOSPHATE PRODUCT INCREASES THE RISK OF ECTOPIC CALCIFICATION. TREATMENT OF HYPERPHOSPHATEMIA USUALLY INCLUDES ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: REDUCTION IN DIETARY INTAKE OF PHOSPHATE, REMOVAL OF PHOSPHATE BY DIALYSIS AND INHIBITION OF INTESTINAL PHOSPHATE ABSORPTION WITH PHOSPHATE BINDERS.