title: Prevention and treatment of aluminum overload in uremic patients: long-term results.
abstract: The authors evaluate the efficacy of a protocol of prevention and treatment of aluminum (Al) overload in RDT patients during a 7-year period (from 1981, 164 patients, to 1987, 161 patients). Al in dialysate solutions was always less than 25 micrograms/l. Baseline Al levels greater than 100 micrograms/l were found in 22% of patients in 1981 but in none in 1987, while the percentage of values less than 60 micrograms/l increased from 55 to 91%. DFO tests were positive in 54% and 7% of cases in 1981 and 1987, respectively. A clinical diagnosis of Al intoxication was performed in 6 patients in 1981, and no further cases were diagnosed later. DFO treatment (50 mg/kg once a week) was employed preventively in 31 patients owing to positive DFO-tests, and in the 6 Al-intoxicated patients therapeutically. In the former patients none developed clinical intoxication. In the latter group clinical improvement was only temporary in the three parathyroidectomized patients. Al hydroxide [Al(OH)3] as a phosphate binder was tapered off in 1981 and substituted by Al-free chelants. In 1987, 66% of patients were given CaCO3 or Mg (OH)2 alone or in association, while 34% still needed Al(OH)3, although at low dosages (less than 2 g/day). The conclusion is that such a protocol is able to prevent and to treat cases of Al intoxication, albeit only partially.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, S. Giovanni-Molinette Hospital, University of Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Canavese
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thea
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacitti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salomone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mangiarotti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Segoloni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stratta
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gurioli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Constantini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giordini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015314:Dialysis Solutions / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014511:Uremia / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D015314:Dialysis Solutions; D000535:Aluminum; D003676:Deferoxamine