Serum aluminium concentration and aluminium deposits in bone in patients receiving haemodialysis

Abstract

Serum aluminium concentrations and biopsy specimens of bone were examined in 56 patients with end stage chronic renal failure receiving maintenance haemodialysis. Deposits of aluminium in bone specimens were often associated with low bone formation with or without osteomalacia. Serum aluminium concentrations of greater than 3.7 mumol/l (10 micrograms/100 ml) indicated a high probability of deposits of aluminium in bone specimens, although high serum concentrations did not predict the type of renal bone disease. Biopsy of the bone is the best method of detecting aluminium intoxication of bone. A serum aluminium concentration of 3.7 mumol/l should be the threshold beyond which bone biopsy should be performed to confirm an overload of aluminium and identify histological bone changes induced by aluminium.