Dialysis dementia in Europe. Report from the Registration Committee of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association.
The diagnosis of dialysis dementia was confirmed in 150 patients treated in sixty-five dialysis centres in Europe in 1976 and 1977. The prevalence was approximately 600 per 100,000 European dialysis patients. The illness was confined to certain geographical areas, 90 of the patients being treated in only fifteen centres. It occurred more frequently in patients dialysed with unprocessed and softened water than in those treated with water processed by deionisation or reverse osmosis. Two-thirds of the patients had osteodystrophy, often painful and fracturing. Morbidity was severe and progressive and only 23 patients were still alive in 1978. The condition seems to be due to aluminium toxicity and should be preventable by water processing in centres where water aluminium content is raised.
D000535:Aluminum / Q000633:toxicity*; D001072:Apraxias / Q000139:chemically induced; D012080:Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000139:chemically induced; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D012042:Registries; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012996:Solutions; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced
D012996:Solutions; D000535:Aluminum