What is Hyperphosphatemia?

Hyperphosphatemia is when you have too much phosphate (phosphorus) in your blood.

Phosphate is a type of electrolyte. Electrolytes are minerals with a natural positive or negative charge that form in solution and other body fluids, like blood.

Who can get hyperphosphatemia?

Any person can get hyperphosphatemia. However, you will be more prone to hyperphosphatemia if you are suffering from advanced chronic kidney disease or kidney failure.

If you have any of the following conditions, you are more likely to be diagnosed with chronic kidney disease or kidney failure:

Diabetes.
High blood pressure (hypertension).
Heart condition.
Family history of kidney disorder.
Abnormal kidney structure.
Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, First Nations or Alaska Native.
Age over 60.
You have a long history of frequently taking pain relievers, including over-the-counter products such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

What are the symptoms of hyperphosphatemia?

Most people with a high phosphate level have no symptoms. In some individuals with chronic kidney disease, however, high phosphate results in low calcium levels in the blood.

Symptoms of low calcium are as follows:

Muscle cramps or spasms
Numbness and tingling about the mouth
Bone and joint aches
Weak bones
Rash
Itchy skin

What causes hyperphosphatemia?

Most of the phosphorus is consumed from other food sources through diet, such as red meat, milk and milk products, chicken and fish, and cereals. Phosphate can be found almost anywhere in the body: in the bones and teeth, inside the cells, and in trace amounts in blood.

Your kidneys help remove excess phosphate from your body to keep the levels balanced. If your kidneys are damaged, your body cannot remove phosphate from your blood fast enough, leading to chronically elevated phosphate levels.

Your phosphate level can increase surprisingly if you get a phosphorus-containing laxative in preparation for a colonoscopy.

Other possible causes of hyperphosphatemia are:

Low parathyroid hormone levels (hypoparathyroidism)
Cell damage
High levels of vitamin D
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Injuries — including injuries that involve muscle damage
Life-threatening infections are present elsewhere in the body

What causes most cases of hyperphosphatemia?

Hyperphosphatemia most commonly occurs in advanced chronic kidney disease.

How is hyperphosphatemia diagnosed?

Hyperphosphatemia can only be diagnosed by a healthcare professional. They will review your medical history, do a physical examination, and ask you about your symptoms, diet, and any medications you might be currently taking. They must conduct a blood test in order to check on the levels of phosphates in your blood.

During your blood test, the provider will draw a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm with an ultra-thin needle and send it to a laboratory to measure the amount of phosphate in your blood. Thus, a level above 4.5 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) means that you have hyperphosphatemia.

In the case you have hyperphosphatemia, it would then be probable that your medical professional would lead to further tests checking for kidney disease. Among those tests include:

Further blood test
Urine protein test
Ultrasound
MRI
CT scan
Kidney biopsy

How is hyperphosphatemia treated?

The treatment for hyperphosphatemia depends upon what's causing the phosphate to build up in your blood. Some foods, drinks, and medications can raise your phosphate levels. You might need to limit or avoid certain foods and beverages or find alternative medicines that have lower phosphate levels.

Your provider may prescribe medicines that make phosphate harder for your body to absorb, so more phosphate passes out of your body when you pee. These medicines include:

Sevelamer (RenaGel®).
Lanthanum (Fosrenol®).
Calcium acetate (Calphron®).

If kidney failure is causing your high phosphate levels, your provider may prescribe dialysis. Dialysis acts like your kidneys, removing extra fluid and waste products from your blood, such as phosphate.

How do I prevent developing hyperphosphatemia?

The best prevention of hyperphosphatemia includes knowing how to keep your kidneys healthy while limiting the amount of phosphate and calcium you ingest. If you are vulnerable to developing hyperphosphatemia, contact your healthcare provider. They will most likely direct you to a nephrologist. A nephrologist refers to a medical doctor who specializes in conditions that affect the kidneys.

When should I see a healthcare provider?

If you have hyperphosphatemia, contact your health care team for immediate medical attention at the earliest manifestation of a disease or kidney failure symptoms.

Why choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Hyperphosphatemia treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital has the most trusted team of Nephrologists with advanced diagnostic equipment care for Hyperphosphatemia treatment in Lucknow, India. Our Nephrology department follows international safety standards and has years of experience in successfully managing disease and conditions like Hyperphosphatemia.