Aluminium speciation in cerebrospinal fluid of acutely aluminium-intoxicated dialysis patients before and after desferrioxamine treatment; a step in the understanding of the element's neurotoxicity.
BACKGROUND
The association between aluminium and dialysis encephalopathy and deterioration of the neurological state during desferrioxamine treatment of dialysis patients is well established. At present little is known about the speciation and the mechanisms underlying the element's neurotoxicity.


METHODS
Aluminium speciation was performed in cerebrospinal fluid samples of acutely aluminium-intoxicated dialysis patients using a recently developed high-performance liquid chromatographic/electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric hybrid method.


RESULTS
Baseline cerebrospinal fluid aluminium levels of samples taken shortly after the intoxication were low but elevated (5.0 +/- 2.0 micrograms/l, n = 3) as compared to subjects with normal renal function (< 1 microgram/l). In contrast to the situation noted in serum and to the iron speciation in cerebrospinal fluid, aluminium was not bound to transferrin but appeared as two distinct compounds, the main fraction eluting at the elution volume of aluminium-citrate/silicate. The second compound was not identified. Forty-four hours after desferrioxamine administration the cerebrospinal fluid aluminium levels had increased up to a concentration of 10.3 +/- 2.5 micrograms/l (n = 3). This was accompanied by a change in the speciation profile with aluminium appearing at the elution volume of aluminoxamine.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings may contribute to a better understanding of the neurotoxic effects of aluminium and its desferrioxamine chelate in dialysis patients.
Van Landeghem
G F
GF
Department of Nephrology-Hypertension, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
D'Haese
P C
PC
Lamberts
L V
LV
Barata
J D
JD
De Broe
M E
ME
D000328:Adult; D000535:Aluminum / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000506:poisoning*; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D012016:Reference Values; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014168:Transferrin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism
D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D014168:Transferrin; D019343:Citric Acid; C049544:aluminoxamine; D000535:Aluminum; D003676:Deferoxamine