Aluminum distribution in serum following hemodialysis.

Aluminum is a toxic metal and has been implicated as the causative agent in the dialysis encephalopathy syndrome. In the study reported here, the transfer of aluminum to the blood from dialysis fluid during hemodialysis was demonstrated even when deionized water was used in the preparation of the dialysate. Studies were carried out on the binding of aluminum to serum proteins and other constituents in patients on long-term hemodialysis. Five major aluminum peaks were observed on chromatographic separation; four were associated with proteins and one large peak was probably associated with a low molecular weight species. The size of the latter peak was enhanced by increasing the aluminum content of the eluting buffer. It is postulated that this low molecular weight species might be the neurotoxic form of aluminum.