[Efficacy and safety of long-term and low-dose desferrioxamine therapy against hyperaluminemia and the clinical symptoms associated with hyperaluminemia in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis].

In order to examine the efficacy and safety of long-term and low-dose desferrioxamine (DFO) therapy against hyperaluminemia and the clinical symptoms associated with hyperaluminemia, 4 patients (3 men and 1 woman, 40-62 years old, period of hemodialysis: 69-189 months) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis were treated by DFO (0.5 g/week) and hemodiafiltration for 27 weeks. 1 patient had only hyperaluminemia, but other 3 patients had refractory ostalgia and arthralgia associated with hyperaluminemia. Clinically, ostalgia and arthralgia disappeared within 1 month after the initiation of treatment. The decrease of serum aluminum level was recognized in all patients (74 +/- 7 micrograms/l to 52 +/- 7 micrograms/l). Also the decrease of delta aluminium was recognized in 2 patients. Serum iron levels did not change, but unsaturable iron binding capacity levels increased slightly. Serum ferritin level decreased in 1 patient. Serum PTH-C levels increased slightly in 3 patients. Serum total protein and albumin levels did not change. Serum transferrin levels increased slightly. Bone mineral contents were measured by microdensitometry method. In 1 patient with only hyperaluminemia, MCI and S.GS/D ameliorated remarkably. Side effects were not recognized in all patients during the course of treatment with DFO. In conclusion, it was thought that the treatment of long-term and low-dose DFO was effective and safe against hyperaluminemia and aluminium intoxication in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.