aluminium poisoning

Last reviewed 01/2018

This may occur in patients who have been haemodialysed in areas where aluminium salts have been added to the local water supply as flocculating agents.

Features include:

  • bone disease:
    • osteomalacia
    • multiple fractures
    • vitamin D resistance

  • dialysis dementia:
    • dysarthria
    • ataxia
    • myoclonus
    • fits

  • hypochromic microcytic anaemia:
    • secondary to abnormal haem synthesis