DETECTION OF ALUMINUM AND IRON IN BONE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE - A SURVEY

Deposition of aluminum (Al) occurs frequently in chronic renal failure. While the degree of deposition shows variations, the bone Al-content is always exceeding the normal range. Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) proved as the preferred method of determination of Al in biological specimens. The histochemical staining of Al on the trabecular surface is a >>conditio sine qua non<< to detect Al, when an Al-induced osteopathy is suspected. Furthermore microanalytic examinations can be used to prove the histochemical findings: The laser microprobe mass analysis (LAMMA) is a useful method to identify the elements histochemically detected. Other microanalytic methods like electroprobe X-ray microanalysis (EPXMA) and the secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) succeeded in ultrastructural localisation of Al in tissues. The LAMMA-technique used in undecalcified bone samples is able to verify the histochemical Aluminon staining. The investigation to elucidate the relationship between iron accumulation and the appearance of renal osteopathy proved the increased risk of adynamic bone disease in dialysis patients with iron overload.