Objective:To investigate the efficacy of lanthanum carbonate versus calcium acetate in the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Methods:A total of 202 patients with chronic renal failure who received maintenance hemodialysis in Department of Nephrology, Yiwu Central Hospital from March 2016 to January 2017 were included in this study. These patients were on dialysis for ≥ 6 months with blood phosphorus level > 1.78 mmol/L before dialysis. They were randomly divided into the lanthanum carbonate ( n = 100) and calcium acetate ( n =102) groups. Two patients in the lanthanum carbonate group withdrew from the study due to intolerance of vomiting. All patients were treated for 9 months. During the study period, low calcium dialysate was rationally used, and strict dietary phosphate restriction was applied. The changes in serum phosphorus, calcium and parathyroid hormone contents before and after treatment were compared between the two groups, and they were compared between before and after treatment in each group. Results:During the treatment, the average dose of phosphate binder was 1 500 mg/d in the lanthanum carbonate group and 3 335 mg/d in the calcium acetate group. There were no significant differences in general demographic data and biochemical indexes between the two groups (both P > 0.05). No significant differences in dietary phosphorus content and dialysate calcium concentration were observed between the two groups (both P > 0.05). In the calcium acetate group, blood phosphorus content decreased from (2.12 ± 0.35) mmol/L before treatment to (1.55 ± 0.24) mmol/L after treatment ( t = 13.43, P < 0.01). In the lanthanum carbonate group, blood phosphorus content decreased from (2.14 ± 0.3) mmol/L before treatment to (1.45 ± 0.17) mmol/L after treatment ( t = 20.01, P < 0.01). In the lanthanum carbonate group, the difference in blood phosphorus content between before and after treatment was (0.69 ± 0.29) mmol/L, which was significantly higher than that in the calcium acetate group [(0.57 ± 0.37) mmol/L, t = 2.553, P < 0.01]. Hypercalcemia did not occur in both groups, and there were no significant differences in carotid intima thickening and presence of calcified plaque between the two groups (both P > 0.05). Conclusion:Under the premise of effectively implementing rational low calcium dialysate use and strict dietary phosphate restriction, both calcium acetate and lanthanum carbonate can effectively reduce the blood phosphorus level in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Lanthanum carbonate has better effect in reducing serum phosphorus level than calcium acetate, but it is likely to produce gastrointestinal reactions. Neither treatment method bears the risk of hypercalcemia.