| [ Summary ] |
Ferric citrate, which is a non-calcium-containing phosphate binder, is superior in supplying iron. Iron treatment in patients with chronic heart failure and iron deficiency, with or without anemia, improves symptoms, functional capacity, and quality of life. This fact indicates the importance of iron supply. Ferric citrate also has an excellent ability to decrease serum FGF23 concentrations. Increased serum FGF23 levels are associated strongly not only with heart failure, but also with mortality risk in both patients undergoing dialysis and patients with CKD not requiring dialysis. The attractive properties of ferric citrate, including phosphate binding, lowering of FGF23, and functioning as an iron source, have given us new tools to investigate the uremic milieu. |