EFFICACY OF LOW-DOSE DESFERRIOXAMINE FOR THE ESTIMATION OF ALUMINUM OVERLOAD IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS

In haemodialysis patients the desferrioxamine (DFO) test is an accepte d method for estimating the body content of aluminium. However, toxic side effects have been frequently reported with the high-dose (500 mg) DFO test was also useful and free of side effects, we compared it wit h a high-dose DFO test in 22 patients on regular haemodialysis. During the first two hours of dialysis, 500 mg DFO in 100 ml 0.9% NaCl were administered intravenously. Before dialysis and after 48 hours alumini um concentration was determined in serum. In 14 patients the low-dose DFO test was considered positive. In 11 of those 14 patients the high- dose (30 mg/kg) DFO test was positive too. Analysis of the results sho wed a significant correlation (p < 0.05) between the outcome of the tw o DFO tests in the same patients. Compared to the high-dose DFO test, the low-dose test revealed a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 6 3%. In contrast with the high-dose DFO test, the low-dose DFO test sho wed no toxic side effects. We conclude that the low-dose DFO test migh t be a reliable and safe method for the estimation of the body content of aluminium in patients on regular haemodialysis.