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Role of Aluminum in Dialysis Dementia
- GEORGE DUNEA, F.R.C.P. (Ed.), M.R.C.P., F.A.C.P.;
- SAKHARAM D. MAHURKAR, M.D.;
- BASHIR MAMDANI, M.D.; and
- EARL C. SMITH, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Abstract
Between September 1972 and January 1976 an outbreak of dialysis dementia affected 20 patients maintained by long-term hemodialysis. The clinical picture was characterized by an insidious onset of altered behaviour, dementia, speech disturbance, myoclonus, and convulsions. Nineteen patients died, but one patient has survived for 16 months. It was later established that in June 1972 the city had altered its method of water purification and that this resulted in higher water aluminum levels. The temporal relation between periods of high water-aluminum content and the appearance of new cases supports the view that aluminum may play a role in the causation of dialysis dementia.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Departments of Nephrology, Cook County Hospital; The Hektoen Institute for Medical Research; Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center; University of Health Sciences—Chicago Medical School; and Rush Medical College; Chicago, Illinois.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. George Dunea; 1835 West Harrison Street; Chicago, IL 60612.
- © 1978 American College of Physicians
