Increase in blood silicon concentration in patients with renal failure.

Comparatively with aluminium, human blood silicon concentration was determined by plasma emission spectrometry. In 33 healthy subjects mean value of 110 micrograms/l (s = 34) was obtained. In 14 patients with renal failure, but non dialyzed, Si increased and showed a good correlation with creatinine suggesting that Si is a good indicator of renal failure. In 127 hemodialyzed patients Si was increased up to a mean blood concentration of 1,740 micrograms/l and sometimes to values as high as 5,000 micrograms/l. Possible pathological consequences of this elevation are still to be determined.