Bone metal content in patients with chronic renal failure

Bone accumulation of metals, other than aluminum (Al), in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) has rarely been studied. We report the bone and blood levels of iron (Fe), vanadium (V), lead (Pb), Al and calcium (Ca) in 18 CRF patients on long-term hemodialysis and in 14 controls (C). Significant increments in mean blood Al (1,300%), V (160%) and Fe (60%) and decrease in blood Pb (-50%) were found in the patients with CRF. Renal subjects had higher bone concentrations (mean +/- S.E.M.; microgram/g of bone) of Al (CRF = 129.1 +/- 16.9; C = 12.6 +/- 2.9; P < 0.0001), Fe (CRF = 940.4 +/- 133.4; C = 263.4 +/- 49.0; P < 0.0001) and V (CRF = 2.55 +/- 0.43; C = 1.39 +/- 0.36; P = 0.0308) and lower Ca (CRF = 268.2 +/- 11.1 mg/g; C = 377.2 +/- 28.1; P = 0.0017). A positive correlation was found between bone Al and V (r = 0.355, P < 0.05). Results indicated that a significant bone accumulation of Al, Fe and V, but not Pb, occurred in the hemodialyzed azotemic individuals.