Prophylactic aluminium hydroxide and hyperaluminaemia in intensive care.

Prophylactic antacid therapy is widely used in intensive care units. We show that significant hyperaluminaemia may occur during the course of prophylaxis with aluminium hydroxide in patients with compromised renal function. Since a significant proportion of patients in intensive care have, or are at risk of developing, renal failure we suggest that the routine use of aluminium hydroxide should be avoided.