[Spontaneous fracture in a hemodialyzed woman probably associated with the oral intake of aluminium gel (author's transl)].

A hemodialyzed woman with radiologically and histologically proven osteomalacia presents a spontaneous fracture that is associated with aluminium intoxication. The hyperalbuminemia (16,6 mumol/1) was not caused by the aluminium contained in the dialysate fluid but by oral ingestion of aluminium gel in a patient presenting hyperabsorption of this metal. Increased absorption could be demonstrated by oral administration of aluminium hydroxide (2 x 12 g A1 (OH)3 spread over 48 hrs) whereas the same test failed to reveal hyperabsorption in two other hemodialyzed patients. The precise mechanism of increased absorption of aluminium is not known. It is concluded that increased digestive absorption of aluminium should be investigated in patients with kidney failure treated with aluminium gel and presenting high blood levels of this metal.