Nephrol Dial Transplant (1999) 14: 2464-2468
© 1999 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association
Case Reports
Renal and other organ failure caused by germanium intoxication
1 Medizinische Klinik II, Rheinisch-Westfälische-Technische Hochschule, Aachen, 2 Dialysezentrum, Aachen and 3 Medizinisches Institut für Umwelthygiene, Düsseldorf, Germany
Correspondence and offprint requests to: Prof. Dr med. Helmut Mann, Schurzelter Straße 564, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Keywords: diabetes mellitus; germanium; polyneuropathy; renal failure; SDS–PAGE; SF-ICP-MS
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Germanium (Ge) is one of the ultratrace elements. Its natural occurrence in very low concentrations in food largely meets the requirements of humans [1,2]. Some Ge compounds have shown promise as antineoplastic or immunostimulatory agents [3–7] and are perceived as natural remedies. However, acute and chronic toxic effects of germanium dioxide (GeO2) and alkylgermanium compounds have been demonstrated [8–18]. Ge is a group IVB element situated between silicium (Si) and tin (Sn) in the periodic table. The chemical properties of Ge are to some extent comparable to that of Si and Sn. Potential health hazards exist when Ge is not consumed in ultra-low, i.e. `normal', quantities.
Previously, intake of Ge compounds was reported to cause renal failure, gastrointestinal disturbances, liver dysfunction, anaemia, neuropathy and even death [8–11,13–22]. Most of
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