Aluminum toxicity following intravesical alum irrigation for hemorrhagic cystitis

Med Pediatr Oncol. 1996 Jul;27(1):64-7. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-911X(199607)27:1<64::AID-MPO13>3.0.CO;2-5.

Abstract

Mental status changes in an immunosuppressed child can be due to a variety of causes; aluminum toxicity is rarely considered. We report a teenage girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed mental status changes, speech disturbance, coarse tremor, and abnormal EEG findings following intravesical 1% alum irrigation and administration of aluminum-containing antacids. Her serum aluminum levels were mildly elevated (14-22 milligram(s), normal 0-6 milligram(s)), and bone marrow biopsy specimens demonstrated aluminum deposition on special staining (Krueger's method). All abnormalities resolved after a nine-week course of intravenous deferoxamine.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Alum Compounds / administration & dosage*
  • Alum Compounds / adverse effects*
  • Aluminum / adverse effects*
  • Aluminum / blood
  • Antidotes / therapeutic use
  • Cystitis / complications
  • Cystitis / drug therapy*
  • Deferoxamine / therapeutic use
  • Electroencephalography / drug effects
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / drug therapy*
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Humans
  • Nervous System Diseases / blood
  • Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Therapeutic Irrigation

Substances

  • Alum Compounds
  • Antidotes
  • aluminum sulfate
  • Aluminum
  • Deferoxamine