Abstract
To investigate aluminum (Al) accumulation in dialysis and nondialysis patients, we measured serum aluminum concentration (s-Al) and red blood cell Al concentration (RBC-Al) using flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. In healthy volunteers, Al could not be detected in the serum or RBC, but RBC-Al was high in non-dialysis patients. In HD patients, there was a positive correlation between s-Al and dose of Al-hydroxide-gel, but no correlation between RBC-Al level and the dose. HD patients who had not been given Al-containing medication showed high level of RBC-Al. We found that Al accmulates in RBC in chronic nephritis and CAPD patients. These results suggest that RBC is one of the target cells in hyperaluminemia.
