Aluminium neurotoxicity

Jyoti A, Sethi P, Sharma D (2007) Bacopa monniera prevents from aluminium neurotoxicity in the cerebral cortex of rat brain. J Ethnopharmacol 111 56-62... 

Whether this explanation of aluminium neurotoxicity is correct or not, it points to a useful general idea about poisons. Their key feature is a resemblance to some chemical species (in this case Mg ) that is essential to a biological process, and which is close enough to gain access to a metabolic process. But once the poison has been incorporated, then differences from the essential species intrude and the metabolic process is blocked. 

The aetiopathogenesis of Alzheimer s disease is evidendy related to an iU-defined and complex interplay of age-related, genetic and environmental neurotoxic fiictors, the most widely mooted of putative agents being aluminium. 

Acute neurotoxic adverse effects of aluminium have been attributed to aluminium-containing surgical cement. 

This case shows again the extraordinary neurotoxic potency of aluminium, which was initiated by about 30 mg and apparently caused by direct access of aluminium to the brain parenchjmia via cerebrospinal fluid leakage. 

Bishop NJ, Robinson MJ, Lendon M, et al Increased concentration of aluminium in the brain of a parenterally fed preterm infant. Arch Dis Child 64 1316-1317, 1989 Bishop NJ, Morley R, Day JP, et al Aluminum neurotoxicity in preterm infants receiving intravenous-feeding solutions. N Engl J Med 336 1557-1561, 1997... 

Touam M, Martinex F, Lacour B, Bourdon R, Zingraff J, DiGuilio S, Drueke T (1983) Aluminum-induced, reversible microcytic anemia in chronic renal failure clinical and experimental studies. CUn Nephrol 19 295-298 Trapp GA (1983) Plasma aluminium is bound to transferrin. Life Sci 33 311-316 Umeda M, Tsurusaki K, Kamikawa S, Izumi N, Tasumoto R, Kishimoto T, Maekawa M (1990) Red blood cell aluminum in patients with renal failure and effect of desferrioxamine infusion. Blood Purif 8 295-300 Van der Voet GB (1992a) Intestinal absorption of aluminum - relation to neurotoxicity. In Isaacson RL, Jensen KF (eds) The vulnerable brain and environmental risks, vol 12 toxins in food. Plenum, New York, pp 35-47 Van der Voet GB (1992b) Intestinal absorption of aluminum. In Chadwick DJ, Whelan J (eds) Aluminum in biology and medicine. Wiley, New York, pp 117-122 (Ciba foundation symposium 169)... 

Although agents that contain aluminium are highly efficient as phosphate binders, they are no longer widely used because of proven neurotoxicity and osteotoxicity. They are gradually being replaced by safer calcium-based salts, or calcium-free compounds, such as sevelamer hydrochloride and lanthanum carbonate [1 ]. 

Nervous system Neurotoxic effects of aluminium are regularly reported as a result of intravesical treatment of hemorrhagic cystitis, as a pediatric case illustrates [2 ]. 

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