Minimal laboratory investigation of uremic patients.

The laboratory investigation of uremic patients is often overly enthusiastic, and information obtained is not always acceptable in terms of cost benefit. As an alternative, we suggest that the functional performance of the individual is important, and, in our experience, assessment of muscle strength is suitable for this purpose. Other parameters, such as monitoring for HBV, deserve attention in clinical practice. The role of aluminium in the pathogenesis of degenerative disease will be better elucidated in the future, in spite of difficulties in undertaking routine aluminium determinations. However, aluminium intoxication may not be the only agonist of iatrogenic intoxication; other trace metals could be equally responsible.