LIPOFUSCIN PRODUCTS, LIPID PEROXIDES AND ALUMINUM ACCUMULATION IN RED-BLOOD-CELLS OF HEMODIALYZED PATIENTS

This study examines whether there is a relationship between aluminum o verload and the accumulation of lipofuscin products (aging pigments) a nd lipid peroxides in red blood cells (RBC) of hemodialyzed patients. Lipid peroxides Hemodialysis levels were assessed by the thiobarbituri c acid reactivity; lipofuscin products Red blood cells were assessed b y determining fluorescence in the lipid extracts at excitation 360 nm and emission 440 nm. Aluminum was measured by atomic absorption spectr ophotometry. Controls were age-matched normal volunteers. Data show th at there was a significant increase in the lipid peroxides and lipofus cin products in hemodialyzed patients compared with controls even afte r normalization with hemoglobin or phospholipids in RBC. Further, the increase in the lipid peroxides and lipofuscin products significantly correlated with the levels of aluminum accumulation in RBC of hemodial yzed patients. This study suggests that aluminum overload has a role i n increased membrane peroxidation, which in turn can cause reduced RBC life span and contribute to anemia in chronic renal failure patients.