A group of 66 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) was studied. 42 of them (21 to 63 years old) were treated with haemodialysis and 24 of them (20 to 63 years old) were treated without dialysis. A group of 16 healthy subjects, 19 to 73 years old, were also studied. The blood samples in non-hemodialyzed patients and healthy subjects were taken only once after cannula had been inserted into the antebrachial vein. The blood samples in hemodialyzed patients were withdrawn four times: just before dialysis, during haemodialysis after the first hour of dialysis (from the arterial and from venous line of the dialyser) and after haemodialysis. Chromium concentrations in serum in all examined groups and chromium concentrations in the dialysis fluid as well as in the demineralized water used for dialysis were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In all patients with CRF serum chromium concentration was significantly higher than in the controls. During haemodialysis a decrease of serum chromium concentration was observed. Significant correlations between chromium concentration and creatinine concentration, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit value, erythrocytes were observed.
Conclusions: 1. Serum chromium concentration in patients with CRF was significantly higher than in normals. 2. No significant differences were found in serum chromium concentration between subgroups of patients with chronic renal failure. 3. Haemodialysis decreases significantly serum chromium concentration.