Exacerbation of aluminium encephalopathy after treatment with desferrioxamine.
Publication/Presentation Date
1-1-1989
Abstract
Two haemodialysis patients with aluminium encephalopathy developed dramatic deteriorations of their neurological symptoms after initiation of desferrioxamine (DFO) therapy. Both patients were treated with relatively large doses of DFO (1 g and 2 g per treatment). In the first case, paranoid delusions, visual hallucinations, seizures and deteriorating speech followed each dialysis treatment with DFO. The second patient experienced increasing confusion, decreasing short-term memory, and deterioration in speech. In both cases the neurological symptoms regressed after decreasing or discontinuing the DFO. These patients demonstrate the potential dangers of using high doses of DFO. The pathogenesis of the exacerbation is not well understood but, may not simply be due to the result of elevated plasma aluminium levels after DFO therapy. We argue in this communication for reducing DFO in patients with aluminium encephalopathy to doses of 1 g three times per week to ensure adequate treatment of aluminium encephalopathy while minimising the risk of exacerbation from overzealous DFO administration.
Volume
4
Issue
2
First Page
110
Last Page
114
ISSN
0931-0509
Published In/Presented At
McCauley, J., & Sorkin, M. I. (1989). Exacerbation of aluminium encephalopathy after treatment with desferrioxamine. Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association, 4(2), 110–114.
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
2496351
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article