title: Plasma aluminum levels (unstimulated and stimulated): clinical and biochemical findings in 185 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis for 4 to 95 months.
abstract: Plasma aluminum levels (unstimulated and stimulated by deferoxamine infusion), along with signs and symptoms associated with aluminum overload, were evaluated in 185 patients (97 men, 88 women; mean age, 58 +/- 8 years) who had been undergoing dialysis for 4 to 95 months and who were still receiving treatment in 1985 at a free-standing dialysis facility which has always used water purified by reverse osmosis. Monthly water aluminum levels never exceeded 15 micrograms/L; therefore, the major source of aluminum in these patients was oral phosphate binders. Unstimulated plasma aluminum levels ranged from 7 to 392 micrograms/L, averaged 81.5 +/- 56.4, and did not correlate with the duration of dialysis (r = 0.07; P greater than 0.31) or frequency of symptoms. Stimulated plasma aluminum levels increased in a linear fashion (r = 0.57; P less than 0.0001) with time on dialysis; however, there was no statistical association between the stimulated aluminum levels and a variety of nonspecific musculoskeletal or CNS symptoms, evidence of hyperparathyroidism, hematocrit, or calcium or phosphorus levels. These findings suggest that total body aluminum, as reflected in deferoxamine-stimulated serum aluminum levels, increases as a function of time undergoing dialysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence 02902.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Chazan
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Abuelo
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Blonsky
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010018:Osteomalacia / Q000139:chemically induced; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000535:Aluminum; D003676:Deferoxamine