title: Silicon metabolism: the basic facts in renal failure.
abstract: Silicon levels in plasma and urine have been studied in normal subjects, in chronic renal failure patients, and in regular hemodialysis patients. Plasma levels were elevated in chronic renal failure, and in hemodialysis patients they were three times the control values. Urine silicon excretion is significantly related to creatinine clearance, and to urinary omolality, magnesium and calcium levels. A small amount of residual silicon is found in the hollow fiber artificial kidneys made by some manufacturers. High concentrations of silicon are found in commercial dialysate and pass down a chemical concentration gradient into the blood compartment. It is concluded that silicon is sequestered rapidly in the body during hemodialysis, and that this amounts to 58 g of silicic acid per annum from hemodialysis alone.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012825:Silicon / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D012825:Silicon