Level-dependent inhibitory effect of hyperaluminaemia on parathyroid hormone secretion in patients with end-stage renal failure

Serum aluminium and parathyroid hormone levels were measured in chronic dialysis patients at discovery of accidental exposure to high dialysate aluminium levels and followed after adequate water purification.

Twenty-nine patients with chronic renal failure on maintenance haemodialysis were accidently exposed to dialysate aluminium levels of 65 micrograms/L (recommended Food and Drug Administration values less than 10 micrograms/L) for 18 months. At discovery, oral aluminium was withdrawn and dialysate aluminium levels were corrected to less than 5 micrograms/L. Serum aluminium, parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase levels were determined at discovery and two months and one year after the corrective measures.

Mean serum aluminium level was 167.6 +/- 15 micrograms/L at discovery and simultaneous serum parathyroid levels were 7.9 +/- 2.2 pmol/L (normal values 1.1 to 4.6 pmol/L). Two months after discontinuation of oral aluminium and correction of dialysate aluminium levels to less than 5 micrograms/L, the patients' mean serum aluminium dropped to 49.6 +/- 4.3 micrograms/L and simultaneous serum parathyroid hormone levels rose to 14.6 +/- 3.2-pmol/L (p < 0.001). Similar levels were maintained at one year. Serum calcium did not change significantly. There was a significant correlation between the drop in serum aluminium and the increase in parathyroid hormone.

These results confirm animal experiments and show convincingly that aluminium inhibits parathyroid secretion also in humans.