Control of hyperphosphatemia beyond phosphate.

Hyperphosphatemia is a prevalent condition in the dialysis population and is associated with bad outcome. Block et al. present data from a post hoc analysis indicating that sevelamer, a noncalcium-containing phosphate binder, may confer a survival benefit in incident hyperphosphatemic hemodialysis patients. This is the first intervention study in the field of mineral metabolism showing a beneficial effect on a hard end point.