MOVE THAN TENFOLD INCREASE OF ARSENIC IN SERUM AND PACKED CELLS OF CHRONIC-HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Arsenic concentrations were determined in serum and packed cells of 7 chronic hemodialysis patients, in fresh dialysate and in a heparin sol ution. The analytical technique was radiochemical neutron activation a nalysis. The accuracy of the method was tested by the analysis of As i n certified reference materials. Patients showed elevated serum and pa cked cell arsenic concentrations compared with controls (serum, range: 2.3-79.8 ng As/ml, median: 11.5 ng As/ml; versus range: 0.132-4.783 n g As/ml, median: 0.38 ng As/ml; packed cells, range: 2.1-68.4 ng As/g, median: 9.5 ng As/g; versus range: 0.51-14.44 ng As/g, median: 3.17 n g As/g). Arsenic concentrations remained unaltered, before versus afte r a single hemodialysis treatment. The arsenic contents of serum and p acked cells were significantly correlated (n = 7, r = 0.96, p < 0.05). No arsenic could be detected in the heparin solution or in the dialys ate.