Silicon accumulation in dialysis patients

Plasma silicon measurements have been obtained in patients with end-stage renal disease on chronic dialysis therapy. The mean +/- SE values for normal plasma silicon concentrations are .15 +/- .02 mg/L. All dialysis groups showed marked elevations in their plasma silicon that correlated with the silicon content of their respective dialysis fluids. The values of two different hemodialysis groups and a peritoneal dialysis group were 4.6 +/- .4, 2.5 +/- .2, and 1.9 +/- 1.2 mg/L, respectively. The silicon content of their respective dialysis fluids were 4.0 +/- .7, 0.5 +/- .4, and 0 +/- .1 mg/L. The ultrafiltrability of plasma silicon through Cuprophane membranes was 79 +/- 2%. Hemodialysis patients drinking high-silicon well water showed significantly higher plasma silicon levels than patients drinking lower silicon municipal water. It is concluded that use of dialysis fluid with elevated silicon levels and the consumption of water containing high concentrations of silicon are two important determinants of silicon levels in a dialysis population. We observed no overt effects of silicon accumulation on the health status of our dialysis patients.