1 Aluminium concentrations were measured in hair, plasma and bone samples from different groups of chronic renal insufficient patients and from a control group (75 healthy volunteers plus 21 deceased subjects). A cross-sectional study with 40 haemodialysis patients and two longitudinal studies were undertaken, the first comprising of 12 home haemodialysis patients and the second 16 patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). 2 Before introduction of water treatment by reverse osmosis, the hair aluminium levels of home haemodialysis patients were elevated compared to controls. Aluminium in the hair of all other groups were within the normal range. Hair aluminium levels were not related to the daily aluminium intake, nor to the cumulative aluminium intake, nor to bone and plasma aluminium concentrations. 3 Plasma aluminium concentrations in all patients were higher than in the controls. Dialysis without reverse osmosis water treatment increased aluminium plasma levels. After installation of reverse osmosis units there was a decrease in the aluminium concentrations in plasma. In CAPD patients insignificant increases in the aluminium levels in plasma were observed. When low contaminated dialysis fluid was available the plasma aluminium concentrations returned to the initial level. 4 Aluminium concentrations in bone were increased in renal insufficient patients compared with controls. Aluminium bone content increased with increasing cumulative aluminium intake by phosphate binding therapy. 5 Hair analysis is of very limited value for the diagnosis of aluminium exposure. Bone analysis is suitable for the assessment of the individual body burden.

Objective To evaluate the potential superiority of either oral or intraperitoneal treatment of catheter tunnel infections (TI), using clindamycin as a first-Iine antibiotic and ultrasound as a diagnostic tool. Design This was a prospective, randomized study in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients. From August 1993 until August 1995, 16 clinically and ultrasound-proven episodes of TI were randomly assigned to either an oral or an intraperitoneal (IP) treatment (100 patients, 1414 patient-months). Main criteria for TI diagnosis were purulent drainage from the exit site and/or a positive ultrasound (pericatheter fluid collection of at least 2 mm, 7.5 MHz transducer). Initially, clindamycin (20 mg/kg body weight) was given via the oral (three times per day) or intraperitoneal route (four times per day). In the case of incompatibility or resistance to clindamycin, either oxacillin orciprofloxacin were used orally or IP. Results Based on ultrasound criteria, the mean time until a ≥50% reduction of pericatheter abscess diameter was 26 days (median) (range: 8 28 days) in the oral, and 15 days (8 27 days) in the IP group (p ≤ 0.05). Showing no significant difference of pericatheter fluid at study entry with 4 mm (median) (range: 2 -6 mm) in the oral group and 4 mm (2 -4 mm) in the IP group, the IP treatment resulted in a decrease to 0 mm (0 2 mm) after 28 days (p < 0.05), while the diameter was still 2 mm (0 10 mm) (NS) in the oral group. Disappearance of exit-site infection was also somewhat earlier in the intraperitoneal group (51 vs 15 days, NS). Catheter removal had to be done once in the IP group and twice in the oral group within 6 months after study entry. Conclusions The results give evidence for greater efficacy of the IP application of clindamycin as a first -Iine antibiotic compared to the oral route for the treatment of tunnel infections.

Intestinal absorption of aluminum (Al) from the phosphate binder aluminum-hydroxide-chloride (PhosphonormR) and successive renal and peritoneal Al elimination were studied in 11 patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Al was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in serum, urine, and dialysis fluid. Al levels in serum of all patients increased in average from 28.6 micrograms/l immediately before to a peak level of 41.6 microgramsWl 4 h after intake of 342 mg Al. After 24 h serum Al (34.0 micrograms/l) was still increased. Elimination across the peritoneum increased from 5.6 micrograms Al during the first 4 h to peak levels of 12.9 micrograms between hour 8 and 12 and decreased to 8.1 micrograms during the last 12 h. The Al clearance of the peritoneum was 0.43 ml/min. In the 6 patients with residual diuresis the renal Al excretion was higher than the peritoneal removal (48.1 micrograms/24 h vs. 24.8 micrograms/24 h). The renal Al clearance amounted to 1.6 ml/min. Assuming a gastrointestinal absorption quotient of 0.1% it is concluded that Al removal by CAPD in patients receiving 342 mg Al/day is not sufficient to prevent Al accumulation. In patients with remaining diuresis, the renal Al elimination exceeds the Al removal by the peritoneum.