Serum and corpuscular nickel and zinc in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Serum and corpuscular nickel and zinc concentrations in 30 chronic hemodialysis patients were examined. Serum nickel and zinc levels before dialysis were 0.22 +/- 0.03 microgram/dl (normal value: 0.56 +/- 0.08 microgram/dl) and 70.0 +/- 13.4 micrograms/dl (normal value: 96 +/- 8 micrograms/dl) low, respectively. However, corpuscular nickel and zinc levels before dialysis were high: 1.25 +/- 0.24 microgram/dl (normal value: 0.88 +/- 0.17 microgram/dl) and 1,299 +/- 146 micrograms/dl (normal value: 1,120 +/- 80 micrograms/dl). Serum zinc levels significantly increased after dialysis, but serum nickel concentrations did not significantly increase during dialysis. Corpuscular nickel and zinc concentrations did not significantly change during dialysis.