Aluminum Overload: An Easily-Ignored Problem in Dialysis Patients with Hyperparathyroidism

Abstract

1. Introduction Dialysis patients are at high risk for aluminum overload, especially patients with hyperparathyroidism, who may occasionally take aluminum-containing phosphate binders. Dialysis patients with aluminum overload may have various symptoms, such as general bone or muscle pain, iron-resistant anemia, hypercalcemia, and neurologic abnormalities, which are sometimes difficult to differentiate from clinical manifestations of hyperparathyroidism. Because of the different therapeutic strategies between aluminum overload and hyperparathyroidism, an overview of aluminum overload in dialysis patients with hyperparathyroidism is presented in the following sections.