1984 Volume 2 Issue 4 Pages 276-282
There are increasing evidences that aluminum may cause a type of osteomalacia (Fracturing Dialysis Osteodystrophy) which occurs in some patients with chronic renal failure on regular hemodialysis. One of such cases is reported here.
A 39 year old woman who has been on regular hemodialysis for 11 years, developed hypercalcemio 5 years after commencing hemodialysis, She underwent parathyroidectomy at 6th year of hemodialysis with little clinical improvement. Multiple fractures developed at 9th year of dialysis and there was no tendency to heal at all in these fractures.
On iliac bone biopsy severe osteomalacia with low turnover was found. Bone aluminum content was about 300ug/dry weight, and aluminum was identified at (osteoid)/(calcified bone) interface with aluminum stain.
Treatment with a chelating agent desferrioxamine, 200mg twice a week before dialysis, seemed to have a significante effect to relieve her bone pain and her multiple fractures healed with good callus formation after 6 months treatment.
