Deranged Ca, Al and Mg content in the tissues of patients with chronic renal failure, as measured by non-destructive neutron activation analysis.

Ca, Al and Mg content in the bone, aorta, skin and hair of 55 persons was measured by non-destructive neutron activation analysis. The Ca content in the bone of nondialyzed and dialyzed patients was found to decrease. Al and Mg were relatively higher than Ca in the patients compared to the controls. The present study suggests that fluctuation in the content of Al and Mg may have some relation to renal osteodystrophy such as osteomalacia as well as similar and related disorders. Al and Mg content in the aorta, and that of Ca in the hair of uremic patients, were higher than the controls. The mean Ca content in the skin of the patients was 25% higher than the controls. These findings indicate 1) that Al and Mg are possibly related to the advance of osteodystrophy, and 2) that Ca, Al and Mg deposits in the organs of uremic patients are a reflection of metabolic disorders in chronic renal failure.