Acute Nickel Intoxication by Dialysis
- JAMES D. WEBSTER, M.D.;
- THOMAS F. PARKER, B.S. M.D.;
- AL C. ALFREY, M.D.;
- W. R. SMYTHE, Ph.D.;
- HIDEO KUBO, Ph.D.;
- GEORGE NEAL; and
- ALAN R. HULL, M.D.
Abstract
Nickel intoxication was observed in a group of 23 dialyzed patients when leaching of nickel-plated stainless steel water heater tank contaminated the dialysate. Symptoms occurred during and after dialysis at plasma nickel concentrations of approximately 3 mg/L. Symptoms included nausea (37 of 37), vomiting (31 of 37), weakness (29 of 37), headache (22 of 37), and palpitation (two of 37). Remission of symptoms occurred spontaneously, generally 3 to 13 hours after cessation of dialysis. The evidence indicated that the nickel became bound in the plasma after crossing the membrane, resulting in a higher concentration in the plasma than in the dialysate and preventing its removal by dialysis.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Abilene Dialysis Center, Abilene, Texas, the Dallas Kidney Disease Center, Dallas, Texas; the Veterans Administration Hospital, Denver, Colorado; the University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado; and National Medical Care, Boston, Massachusetts.
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Grant support: from the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Thomas F. Parker, M.D.; Dallas Kidney Disease Center, 3604 Live Oak; Dallas, TX 75204
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- Received September 10, 1979.
- Received January 24, 1980.
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