Toxic Effects of Aluminum and Their Probable Association with Dialysis

Toxic Effects of Aluminum and Their Probable Association with Dialysis Encephalopathy Reports on the neurotoxic properties of Aluminum (Al++), as well as those of many other heavy metals, date as far back as the end of the nineteenth century. In 1965, Al was found to induce the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in animal brains. These NFT’s were similar to those found in brains of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Vast research thus, was targeted at defining the possible etiologic role of Al in AD. However, several findings, among them the fact that Al++ induced NFT’s are structurally different than those found in AD, have contributed to reducing the importance placed on Al++ as an etiologic factor of AD. The Al++ theory, however, still remains a theory, and further research needs to be done before it can be disproved. In 1970, Alfrey and collaborators described a disease called dialysis encephalopathy (DE). This degenerative disease was seen in renal failure patients who had been undergoing dialysis. Studies following this initial report have implicated Al++ intoxication as a probable cause for the development of the disease. The purpose of this paper will be to describe the possible mechanisms by which Al may in fact act as a contributory factor the in induction of neural degeneration that may lead to DE. The neurological problems associated with chronic renal failure and its consequent treatment, namely hemodialysis, can be either acute or chronic. When acute, the patient develops a set of symptoms collectively referred to as dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS). This syndrome presents with a transient loss or alteration of the sense of equilibrium due to disturbances to the vestibular sy... ...on, G., Cogdill, K., Jope, R. Oral Aluminum Alters In Vitro Protein Phosphorylation and Kinase Activities in Rat Brain. Neurobiology of Aging, 11: 209-16 (1990). 5) Johnson, G., Li, X., Jope, R. Aluminum Increases Agonist Stimulated Cyclic AMP Production in Rat Cerebral Cortical Slices. Journal of Neurochemistry, 53: 258-63 (1989). 6) Kerr, D., Ward, M., Ellis, H., Simpson, W. Aluminum Intoxication in Renal Disease. CIBA-Found-Symposium, 169: 123-41 (1992). 7) Langui, D., Probst, A., Anderton, B. Aluminum Induced Tangles in Cultured Rat Neurons. Acta Neuropathol., 80: 649-55 (1990). 8) Meiri, H., Banin, E., Roll, M., Rousseau, A. Toxic Effects of Aluminum on Nerve Cells and Synaptic Transmission. Progress in Neurobiology, 40: 89-121 (1993). 9) Wisniewski, H., Wen, G. Aluminum and Alzheimer’s Disease. CIBA-Found-Symposium, 169: 142-64 (1992). Toxic Effects of Aluminum and Their Probable Association with Dialysis Toxic Effects of Aluminum and Their Probable Association with Dialysis Encephalopathy Reports on the neurotoxic properties of Aluminum (Al++), as well as those of many other heavy metals, date as far back as the end of the nineteenth century. In 1965, Al was found to induce the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in animal brains. These NFT’s were similar to those found in brains of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Vast research thus, was targeted at defining the possible etiologic role of Al in AD. However, several findings, among them the fact that Al++ induced NFT’s are structurally different than those found in AD, have contributed to reducing the importance placed on Al++ as an etiologic factor of AD. The Al++ theory, however, still remains a theory, and further research needs to be done before it can be disproved. In 1970, Alfrey and collaborators described a disease called dialysis encephalopathy (DE). This degenerative disease was seen in renal failure patients who had been undergoing dialysis. Studies following this initial report have implicated Al++ intoxication as a probable cause for the development of the disease. The purpose of this paper will be to describe the possible mechanisms by which Al may in fact act as a contributory factor the in induction of neural degeneration that may lead to DE. The neurological problems associated with chronic renal failure and its consequent treatment, namely hemodialysis, can be either acute or chronic. When acute, the patient develops a set of symptoms collectively referred to as dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS). This syndrome presents with a transient loss or alteration of the sense of equilibrium due to disturbances to the vestibular sy... ...on, G., Cogdill, K., Jope, R. Oral Aluminum Alters In Vitro Protein Phosphorylation and Kinase Activities in Rat Brain. Neurobiology of Aging, 11: 209-16 (1990). 5) Johnson, G., Li, X., Jope, R. Aluminum Increases Agonist Stimulated Cyclic AMP Production in Rat Cerebral Cortical Slices. Journal of Neurochemistry, 53: 258-63 (1989). 6) Kerr, D., Ward, M., Ellis, H., Simpson, W. Aluminum Intoxication in Renal Disease. CIBA-Found-Symposium, 169: 123-41 (1992). 7) Langui, D., Probst, A., Anderton, B. Aluminum Induced Tangles in Cultured Rat Neurons. Acta Neuropathol., 80: 649-55 (1990). 8) Meiri, H., Banin, E., Roll, M., Rousseau, A. Toxic Effects of Aluminum on Nerve Cells and Synaptic Transmission. Progress in Neurobiology, 40: 89-121 (1993). 9) Wisniewski, H., Wen, G. Aluminum and Alzheimer’s Disease. CIBA-Found-Symposium, 169: 142-64 (1992).