TREATMENT OF ALUMINUM INTOXICATION - A NEW SCHEME FOR DESFERRIOXAMINEADMINISTRATION

In order to control aluminium toxicity in dialysis patients it is pref erable to prevent or limit exposure to it. However, it is sometimes ne cessary to remove the aluminium by the use of appropriate techniques. The collateral effects of desferrioxamine have led use to test new for ms of administering desferrioxamine and attempt to reduce the dose. Th e aim of this study was to compare the removal of aluminum by administ ration of 15 mg/kg of desferrioxamine under two different schemes, tha t is, 44 h before the dialysis (classic scheme) and 1 h before dialysi s (new scheme). The study was carried out in 10 patients over a period of 4 weeks. Aluminium removal was quantified in the dialysate through out the dialysis. Measurement was also performed of the serum aluminiu m changes that occurred during the study. The total removal of alumini um was determined over three consecutive dialysis sessions following t he administration of desferrioxamine. A similar amount of aluminium wa s found under both schemes. However, in the case of those patients giv en desferrioxamine 1 h prior to dialysis, removal of aluminium induced significantly lower serum aluminium peaks: (P < 0.02). These results suggest that the administration of desferrioxamine 1 h before dialysis is a valid alternative to the classic scheme (44 h before). The remov al of aluminium at lower increments in the serum aluminium entails les s risk for patients.