Desferrioxamine therapy in hemodialysis patients with aluminum-associated bone disease.

Aluminum toxicity in dialysis patients is associated with decreased bone turnover and a relative parathyroid hormone (PTH) deficiency. Desferrioxamine (DFO), a chelating agent, has been reported to improve bone histology in aluminum associated, low turnover bone disease in dialysis patients not subjected to parathyroidectomy. Information on the effect of DFO therapy on parathyroid gland function is lacking. In the present study, in addition to changes in bone histology, parathyroid gland function was evaluated in 18 hemodialysis patients with aluminum associated, low turnover bone disease (osteomalacia and aplastic bone disease) before and after one year of DFO treatment (1 to 6 g/week). Parathyroid gland function was assessed by using a calcium free and high calcium (3.5 to 4 mEq/liter) hemodialysis bath.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)