Diagnosis and treatment of aluminium bone disease

Aluminium accumulation in serum and tissues is a well-known complication in patients with chronic renal failure, and retention of the element in bone has been implicated in the pathogenesis of the so-called aluminium-related bone disease (ARBD). Regular serum aluminium monitoring remains mandatory to detect patients and centres at risk for aluminium intoxication. Early recognition of ARBD however requires a desferrioxamine (DFO) test in combination with a serum iPTH measurement. Definite diagnosis of ARBD is made by histological examination of a bone biopsy. Once ARBD has been identified DFO treatment should be initiated and all potential sources of aluminium exposure eliminated. In order to minimize the risk for DFO-related cerebral, auditory and visual side-effects, and siderophore-mediated opportunistic infections the chelator should be used at low doses (5 mg/kg) and administered widely spaced (once weekly) following well-defined strategies of administration.