NEURONAL ACCUMULATION OF ALUMINUM IN DIALYSIS ENCEPHALOPATHY - A LASER MICROPROBE STUDY

Dialysis encephalopathy (DE), a fatal neurologic complication of patients with renal failure receiving chronic hemodialysis, is thought to be due to aluminum (Al) toxicity. We have used laser microprobe mass spectrometry to determine Al levels in hippocampal neurons of three autopsied DE patients and seven control subjects. Grand mean Al levels were significantly elevated in cytoplasm and nuclei of hippocampal neurons and adjacent neuropil of DE subjects compared with controls (p < 0.05). Our data indicate that hippocampal neurons in DE contain elevated Al and support the hypothesis that the neurologic manifestations of DE are related to Al toxicity.