Aluminum Toxicity

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 Epidemiology 2 Pathology 3 Clinical-manifestations 4 Pharmacokinetics 5 Laboratory 6 Management 7 More General Terms 8 Additional Terms 9 References

Epidemiology

• dietary aluminum is ubquitous in small quantities
• not a significant concern in subjects with normal renal function
• identified as a source of concern in dialysis patients using tap water in dialyis solutions
• acute toxicity is rare

Pathology

• causes oxidative stress in the brain
• interferes with neurofilament axonal transport & neurofilament assembly

Clinical-manifestations

• dementia
• microcytic anemia
• bone pain, multiple fractures
• proximal myopathy

Pharmacokinetics

• 0.3% of orally administered aluminum is absorbed via the GI tract
• PTH may increase intestinal absorption of aluminum
• 95% of an aluminum load is bound to transferrin & albumin intravascularly & is then eliminated renally
• 1/2life in brain is 7 years

Laboratory

• serum aluminum > 20 ug/ dL

• serum aluminum > 50 ug/ dL is an indication for chelation therapy in symptomatic patients

Management

• elimination of aluminum from the diet, TPN, dialysate, medications, antiperspirants
• chelation therapy with deferoxamine 2.5-5.0 mg/kg/wk
• nephrology consult

More General Terms

• toxicity; poisoning; overdose

Additional Terms

• aluminum [Al]

References

1. Bernardo JF et al eMedicine: Toxicity, Aluminum [1]

aluminum toxicity