Phosphate salivary secretion in hemodialysis patients: implications for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia.

Background/aims: Hyperphosphatemia is recognized as contributing to the increased risk of cardiac death in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients. Currently available pharmacologic treatment for hyperphosphatemia is based on phosphate binders but, despite treatment, only half of the patients fall within the range for serum phosphorus of the K/DOQI guidelines. Therefore, there is a need to identify other therapeutic approaches in order to reduce serum phosphate.