Aluminium (Al) toxicity may lead to mainly three disorders in haemodialysis (HD) patients: aluminium-related bone disease (osteomalacia), microcytic anemia and neurological dysfunction (Sandhu G-2011 [1]). This toxicity is associated with exposure to contaminated water of dialysate preparations or ingestion of aluminum-containing binders used for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia (Willhite CC-2012 [2]). The aim of this study was to determine the risk of Al toxicity in HD patients receiving aluminium hydroxide without the confounding factor of aluminium-contaminated dialysis (Pepper R-2011 [3] (full text); Mudge DW-2011 [4] (full text)).
We studied 82 current haemodialysis patients. Serum aluminium concentrations are monitored every six months in our unit. For the correct sampling of aluminium all the precautions were taken: fasting for at least eight hours, upright for at least 30 minutes, prohibition of drinks contained in aluminium cans.
15 patients received sevelamer in an average dose of 6,4 grams daily; 28 patients received lanthanum (average dose 2,5 grams daily); 12 patients received calcium acetate/magnesium carbonate (average dose 1,5 grams daily); 15 patients received sevelamer carbonato (average dose of 4,8 grams daily) and 12 patients received aluminium hydroxide (average dose 800 mg daily) (Figura 1). In all patients the mean serum phosphate concentration was 4,9 mg/dl. Serum Al concentrations were low in all patients (mean concentration 7,8 mcg/lt) (Figura 2). Only one patient had concentration over 55 mcg/lt but no clinical evidence of toxicity.
Although this is a small study, we observed no correlation between serum Al concentration and the total amount of Al ingested. No patient had clinical evidence of Al toxicity despite the administration of aluminium hydroxide. Therefore, with due prudence, although in accord to the K/DOQI and KDIGO guidelines in our hospital we promote the use of the newer phosphate binders, we should re-evaluate the risk of using Al-based phosphate binders in HD population.
[1] Sandhu G, Djebali D, Bansal A et al. Serum concentrations of aluminum in hemodialysis patients. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation 2011 Mar;57(3):523-5
[2] Willhite CC, Ball GL, McLellan CJ et al. Total allowable concentrations of monomeric inorganic aluminum and hydrated aluminum silicates in drinking water. Critical reviews in toxicology 2012 May;42(5):358-442
[3] Pepper R, Campbell N, Yaqoob MM et al. Do oral aluminium phosphate binders cause accumulation of aluminium to toxic levels? BMC nephrology 2011 Oct 12;12:55 (full text)
[4] Mudge DW, Johnson DW, Hawley CM et al. Do aluminium-based phosphate binders continue to have a role in contemporary nephrology practice? BMC nephrology 2011 May 13;12:20 (full text)
Per inserire una domanda, segnalare la tua esperienza, un tuo commento o una richiesta di precisazione fai il login con il tuo nome utente e password.
Se non lo sei ancora puoi registrati partendo da qui.