Multiorgan aluminium deposits in a chronic haemodialysis patient. Electron microscope and microprobe studies.

The study reports an aluminium-intoxicated haemodialysis patient who had encephalopathy, osteomalacia and congestive cardiomyopathy prior to his death. Detailed light and electron microscope examination revealed the presence of aluminium deposits within lysosomes of cells from many organs, including the kidney, liver, brain and heart. The heavy aluminium deposits in myocardial lysosomes favor a possible role of the trace element in the patient's congestive cardiomyopathy.