Aplastic bone: a nondisease of medical progress

Abstract

Aplastic bone is characterized by a low bone formation rate, usually with no other histological abnormalities. Initially, it was thought to be caused by aluminum and was associated with a substantial morbidity. In the current milieu of dialysis, it is usually (> 2/3 of the time) not a result of aluminum toxicity. In the absence of large amounts of aluminum, aplastic bone is not an important cause of bone symptoms. It generally can be diagnosed by noninvasive means. Longer duration follow-up of such patients is needed, but up to now there is no evidence that this condition is a disease needing therapy.