[Treatment of aluminum-induced osteopathy with desferrioxamine in dialysis-dependent renal failure]

Presenting two patients on long-term dialysis with marked osteopathy due to aluminium intoxication we described the symptoms, pathogenesis and therapy of the disease. Two patients were treated with the chelating agent desferrioxamine which lead to a striking improvement in clinical symptoms and removal of aluminium from bone. Osteopathy due to aluminium intoxication is refractory to Vitamin D and its metabolites. Using reversed osmosis in dialysis the high aluminium levels in bone result mainly from the long-term use of phosphate binders. Therapy of choice is the treatment with desferrioxamine.