ABSTRACT
From a biological point of view, aluminum is considered a nonessential trace element, and it was implicated a few years ago as a toxic metal. Its toxicity has been recognized primarily with chronic renal failure, although adverse effects in the presence of normal renal function remain to be clearly defined. Long-term hemodialysis patients develop increased serum aluminum concentrations. Clinic sequelae associated with hyperaluminemia include encephalopathy, metabolic bone disease, anemia, and myopathy. Bone biopsies were obtained from the iliac crest during surgical renal transplantation. The standard-addition method was used to calibrate and measure aluminum concentration in the diluted digest. Aluminum values obtained from bone patients under hemodialysis are clearly higher than those from the control group. Bone tissue seems to be a proper sample in which to evaluate aluminum overload in uremic patients.
