Ferric citrate controls phosphorus and delivers iron in patients on dialysis.

Patients on dialysis require phosphorus binders to prevent hyperphosphatemia and are iron deficient. We studied ferric citrate as a phosphorus binder and iron source. In this sequential, randomized trial, 441 subjects on dialysis were randomized to ferric citrate or active control in a 52-week active control period followed by a 4-week placebo control period, in which subjects on ferric citrate who completed the active control period were rerandomized to ferric citrate or placebo.

Treatment of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: limited options but hope for the future.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis has now been linked to gadolinium-based contrast exposure in those with compromised kidney function. When present, symptoms can be quite devastating for the patient including severe pain and immobility. Unfortunately there is a lack of a universally effective therapy at this time and the literature, reviewed in this article, is comprised of primarily case reports and small case series allowing few conclusions to be drawn.