sodium-bicarbonate and Calcinosis

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and metabolic acidosis might accelerate vascular calcification. The T50 calcification inhibition test (T50-test) is a global functional test analyzing the overall propensity of calcification in serum, and low T50-time is associated with progressive aortic stiffening and with all-cause mortality in non-dialysis CKD, dialysis, and transplant patients. Low serum bicarbonate is associated with a short T50-time and alkali supplementation could be a simple modifier of calcification propensity. The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term effect of oral sodium bicarbonate supplementation on T50-time in CKD patients.. The SoBic-study is an ongoing randomized-controlled trial in CKD-G3 and G4 patients with chronic metabolic acidosis (serum HCO3- ≤21 mmol/L), in which patients are randomized to either achieve serum HCO3- levels of 24 ± 1 mmol/L (intervention group) or 20 ± 1 mmol/L (rescue group). The effect of bicarbonate treatment on T50-time was assessed.. The study cohort consisted of 35 (14 female) patients aged 57 (±15) years, and 18 were randomized to the intervention group. The mean T50-time was 275 (± 64) min. After 4 weeks, the mean change of T50-time was 4 (±69) min in the intervention group and 18 min (±56) in the rescue group (β = -25; 95% CI: -71 to 22; p = 0.298). Moreover, change of serum bicarbonate in individual patients was not associated with change in T50-time, analyzed by regression analysis. Change of serum phosphate had a significant impact on change of T50-time (β = -145; 95% CI: -237 to -52).. Oral sodium bicarbonate supplementation showed no effect on T50-time in acidotic CKD patients.

Topics: Acidosis; Adult; Aged; Calcinosis; Dietary Supplements; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Sodium Bicarbonate; Vascular Stiffness

Klotho, a protein counteracting aging, is a powerful inhibitor of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] formation and regulator of mineral metabolism. In klotho hypomorphic (kl/kl) mice, excessive 1,25(OH)2D3 formation leads to hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia and vascular calcification, severe growth deficits, accelerated aging and early death. Kl/kl mice further suffer from extracellular volume depletion and hypotension, leading to the stimulation of antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone release. A vitamin D-deficient diet, restriction of dietary phosphate, inhibition of mineralocorticoid receptors with spironolactone, and dietary NaCl all extend the lifespan of kl/kl mice. Kl/kl mice suffer from acidosis. The present study explored whether replacement of tap drinking water by 150 mM NaHCO3 affects the growth, tissue calcification, and lifespan of kl/kl mice. As a result, NaHCO3 administration to kl/kl mice did not reverse the growth deficit but substantially decreased tissue calcification and significantly increased the average lifespan from 78 to 127 days. NaHCO3 did not significantly affect plasma concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 and Ca(2+) but significantly decreased plasma phosphate concentration and plasma aldosterone concentration. The present study reveals a novel effect of bicarbonate, i.e., a favorable influence on vascular calcification and early death of klotho-deficient mice.

Topics: Acidosis; Aldosterone; Animals; Calcinosis; Calcitriol; Calcium; Genotype; Glucuronidase; Hyperaldosteronism; Hyperphosphatemia; Intestinal Absorption; Klotho Proteins; Longevity; Mice, Knockout; Phenotype; Phosphates; Renal Elimination; Sodium Bicarbonate; Time Factors; Vascular Calcification

We describe a 40-month-old male infant with renal failure, treated with peritoneal dialysis, who developed massive calcification of soft tissues including the heart and lungs with subsequent cardiopulmonary insufficiency. A diagnosis of Jeune syndrome was made. After starting peritoneal dialysis, the patient exhibited an intractable metabolic acidosis of unknown etiology necessitating treatment with intravenous or oral sodium bicarbonate. Myocardial calcification was first detected by 2-dimensional echocardiography performed 3 months after starting dialysis. The patient was not suitable for renal transplantation because of his cardiac dysfunction and died of cardiac and respiratory failure at the age of 6 years. Although the patient exhibited a variety of risk factors for ectopic calcification including hyperphosphatemia, hyperparathyroidism, high calcium-phosphate product and treatment with vitamin D, the early and massive soft tissue calcification may have been accelerated by correction of the metabolic acidosis. Therefore, the use of sodium bicarbonate may be involved in the etiology of the myocardial calcification.

Topics: Acidosis; Calcinosis; Cardiomyopathies; Echocardiography; Fatal Outcome; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infant; Lung Diseases; Male; Peritoneal Dialysis; Renal Insufficiency; Sodium Bicarbonate; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Calcifications in arterial media are clinically well documented, but the role played by magnesium in pathophysiology and therapy is uncertain. To clarify this, an animal model in which the juxtacardial aorta was grafted to the infrarenal aorta, and the subsequent calcifications in the media of the graft and their response to oral supplementation with three magnesium-containing and alkalinizing preparations was investigated. Groups of highly inbred rats were formed as follows: sham-operation (Sham, n = 12), aorta transplantation (ATx, n = 12), ATx + magnesium citrate (MgC, n = 12), ATx + MgC + potassium citrate (MgCPC, n = 12), ATx + MgC + MgCPC (MgCPCSB, n = 12). At 84 (+/-2) days after ATx with or without treatment the following observations were made: (1) weight gain and general status were normal; (2) ATx rats developed massive media calcification, mineral accumulation in the graft, decreased erythrocyte magnesium and plasma parathyroid hormone, and increased plasma ionized magnesium and calcium, and uric acid; (3) Mg-treated rats developed variable degrees of metabolic alkalosis, but only MgCPCSB supplementation prevented calcifications. Additional findings after ATx alone were: imbalance in endothelin and nitric oxide production, the mineral deposited in media was poorly crystallized calcium phosphate, calcium exchange between plasma and graft, and bone resorption were unchanged. The superior anti-calcification effect of MgCPCSB was characterized by complete restoration of normal extracellular mineral homeostasis and uric acid, but sub-optimal normalization of erythrocyte magnesium. It was concluded that in the rat: (1) ATx causes loss of cellular magnesium, excess of extracellular magnesium and calcium in the presence of apparently unchanged bone resorption, and increased uricemia; (2) ATx facilitates enhanced influx of calcium into vascular tissue, leading to calcium phosphate deposition in the media; (3) ATx-induced calcification is prevented by dietary supplementation with a combination of magnesium, alkali citrate and bases. Although the described circulatory model of media calcification in the rat requires further investigation, the data allow ascribing a fundamental role to magnesium and acid-base metabolism.

Topics: Animals; Aorta; Aorta, Thoracic; Aortic Diseases; Calcinosis; Calcium; Citric Acid; Drug Therapy, Combination; Erythrocytes; Homeostasis; Kidney; Magnesium; Male; Metals, Alkali; Organometallic Compounds; Potassium Citrate; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Sodium Bicarbonate; Time Factors; Tunica Media

We present a case of a 4.5 years old boy suffering from hypercalciuria caused by a not diagnosed distal renal tubular acidosis. In the age of 2.5 years, after a banal infection the routine analysis showed a presence of numerous calcium phosphates in urine. Other diagnostic procedures showed: hypercalciuria, hyperphosphaturia, rather high calcemia and high values of UCa/cr and UPO4/cr ratios. HCO3 in serum 21.2 mmol/l, pH of urine 7.0. Kidneys and urinary tract-usg normal. These results induced the family doctor to make the diagnosis: idiopathic renal hypercalciuria. He advised the therapy with hydrochlorothiazide and limitations of calcium and vitamins D3 oral supply. This decision caused an illusory positive effect: decreased the UCa/cr ratio (to 0.96 mmol/mmol) without any reduction of calcemia. After a period of 12 months the UCa/cr ratio increased up to 1.31 and calcification of renal pyramids appeared. We diagnosed the distal renal tubular acidosis (some medical informations suggested the essential distal renal tubular acidosis) and osteopenia (DXA BMD L1-L4 below -1 s.d.). The therapy with NaHCO3 (about 2.6 mmol/kg) normalized the levels of HCO3a and calcium in serum, decreased the UCa/cr ratio to values 0.09-0.16 mmol/mmol.

Topics: Acidosis, Renal Tubular; Bone Diseases, Metabolic; Calcinosis; Calcium; Child, Preschool; Humans; Kidney Diseases; Male; Sodium Bicarbonate

Three siblings with neonatal familial hyperparathyroidism diagnosed at age 4 months, 2 months, and 5 days, respectively, were treated. Hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis, and renal tubular acidosis were present in each child. In all three, there were higher responses of serum parathyroid hormone to serum calcium and higher elevation of serum calcium with oral calcium loading. The metabolism of vitamin D and calcitonin seemed to be intact. Hypercalcemia associated with the abnormal response of parathyroid hormone secretion disappeared when the children passed the age of approximately 2 years, although renal tubular acidosis and nephrocalcinosis remained. An autosomal recessive inheritance seems likely.

Topics: Acidosis, Renal Tubular; Bicarbonates; Calcinosis; Calcium; Calcium, Dietary; Chromosome Aberrations; Chromosome Disorders; Female; Humans; Hypercalcemia; Hyperparathyroidism; Infant, Newborn; Kidney Diseases; Male; Parathyroid Hormone; Sodium; Sodium Bicarbonate; Vitamin D

Topics: Animals; Bicarbonates; Calcinosis; Ergocalciferols; Female; Lung; Lung Diseases; Rats; Sodium Bicarbonate

Soft tissue calcification has been reported following the intramuscular injection of calcium salts and the intravenous administration of calcium gluconate. The present case report describes a neonate in whom calcification of the superficial scalp veins developed following administration of calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate through a scalp vein needle.

Topics: Bicarbonates; Calcinosis; Calcium Chloride; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Infusions, Parenteral; Male; Scalp; Sodium Bicarbonate; Vascular Diseases; Veins