Clinical features of aluminum-associated bone disease in long-term hemodialysis patients

We encountered 11 patients with aluminum-associated bone disease (AABD), and treated them with deferoxamine (DFO). In 3 patients, a second bone biopsy was done during DFO treatment. Clinical features of AABD were compared with surgically proven secondary hyperparathyroidism (2 degrees HPT) with osteitis fibrosa on X-ray. Patients with AABD had disabling bone pain. This disease showed radiological signs ranging from normal, localized bone atrophy, to multiple fractures. It was characterized by increased soft tissue activity and localized abnormal uptake of 99mTc-MDP, detected by skeletal scintigrams. Patients with AABD had low levels of parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase, but high aluminum (Al) levels compared to those with 2 degrees HPT. Serum Al increased after DFO administration, and the patients improved both clinically and histologically. 1-alpha-Hydroxyvitamin D3 (1-alpha-OH D3) was not effective for AABD. We concluded that the administration of antacids containing Al should be minimized in dialysis patients.