Serum aluminum levels, significantly higher in dialysis patients than in normal subjects, were also found to be significantly higher in patients on PD than in those on HD. This could be related to a higher Al transport rate across membrane during PD than during HD. The easier contamination of PD dialysates and their acidic pH could account for this trend to a positive Al balance in PD.
On the basis of our observations, however, the significance of the serum aluminum level could be very low, since aluminemia does not seem to reflect the cumulative amount of Al ingested and might not readily help predict the risk of Al intoxication.
ArmstrongV.W., BuschmannU., EbertR., FuchsC., RiegerJ., SchelerF.: Biochemical investigations of CAPD: plasma levels of trace elements and aminoacids and impaired glucose tolerance during the course of treatment.Intern. J. Artif. Organs,3, 237, 1980.
2.
CannataJ.B., BriggsJ.D., FellG.S., JunorB.J.R.: Comparison of control of serum phosphate levels during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and during hemodialysis.Perit. Dial. Bull.,3, 97, 1983.
3.
GacekE.M., BabbA.L., UvelliD.A., FryD.L., ScribnerB.N.: Dialysis dementia: the role of dialysate pH in altering the dialyzability of aluminium.Trans. Am. Soc. Artif. Organs,25, 409, 1979.
4.
GilliP., FagioliF., De Paoli VitaliE., SquerzantiR., FarinelliA.: Alluminio ed emodialisi periodica.Min. Nefrol.,25, 319, 1978.
5.
GilliP., FarinelliA., FagioliF., De BastianiP., BuoncristianiU.: Serum aluminium levels in patients on peritoneal dialysis.Lancet,2, 742, 1980.
6.
GilliP., De BastianiP., FagioliF., BuoncristianiU., CarobiC., FarinelliA.: Positive aluminium balance in patients on regular peritoneal treatment: an effect of low dialysate pH? Proc.EDTA,17, 219, 1980.
7.
GilliP., MalacarneF., FagioliF.: Is serum aluminium monitoring useful in evaluating aluminium intoxication?Lancet, 1, 656, 1983.
8.
GilliP.: Significato clinico e diagnostico dell'alluminiemia in varie popolazioni in trattamento dialitico. Atti Workshop su «Dialisi, alluminio e demenza», Milano, 4 dicembre 1982 (in press).
9.
GokalR., ParkinsonI., RamosM., WardM.K., KerrD.N.S.: Elevated serum aluminium levels in patients on CAPD. In: GahlG.M., KesselM., NolphK.D.: Advances in peritoneal dialysis.Amsterdam, Excerpta Medica, 1981, 473.
SorkinM.I., NolphK.D., AndersonH.O., MorrisJ.S., KennedyJ., ProwantB., MooreH.: Aluminum mass transfer during CAPD.Perit. Dial. Bull.,1, 91, 1981.
13.
ThomsonN.M., StevensB.J., HumphreyT.J., AtkinsR.C.: Comparison of trace elements in peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis and uremia.Kidney Intern.,23, 9, 1983.
