HEMODIALYSIS EFFECT ON SERUM BORON LEVEL IN THE PATIENTS WITH LONG-TERM HEMODIALYSIS

Serum and dialysate boron levels in 17 patients with long term hemodia lysis (HD) were determined by inductively coupled plasma emission spec trometry (ICPES). Serum boron level was compared with the value of age matched 467 healthy controls and the relationship between serum and d ialysate boron level was analyzed. The results showed that serum boron level was significantly higher at the beginning of HD, and lower at t he completion of HD in comparison with controls. Although the dialysat e was contaminated with trace boron, HD resulted in an excessive decre ase of serum boron, rather than boron exposure from the dialysate. Bor on hemodialyzability was almost proportional to the gradient of the bo ron level at the beginning of HD and it could be controlled by the adj ustment of the gradient. In conclusion, the serum boron level was very much disturbed in long term HD patients. If boron excess in serum at the beginning of HD, or deficiency at the completion of HD may contrib ute to the complications of HD patients, fine adjustment and close sur veillance of the gradient should be taken into account.