Hemodialysis effect on serum boron level in the patients with long term hemodialysis

Serum and dialysate boron levels in 17 patients with long term hemodialysis (HD) were determined by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICPES). Serum boron level was compared with the value of age matched 467 healthy controls and the relationship between serum and dialysate boron level was analyzed. The results showed that serum boron level was significantly higher at the beginning of HD, and lower at the completion of HD in comparison with controls. Although the dialysate was contaminated with trace boron, HD resulted in an excessive decrease of serum boron, rather than boron exposure from the dialysate. Boron hemodialyzability was almost proportional to the gradient of the boron level at the beginning of HD and it could be controlled by the adjustment of the gradient. In conclusion, the serum boron level was very much disturbed in long term HD patients. If boron excess in serum at the beginning of HD, or deficiency at the completion of HD may contribute to the complications of HD patients, fine adjustment and close surveillance of the gradient should be taken into account.