[MRT in dialysis-associated destructive spondylarthropathy of the atlantoaxial region].

Destructive bone and joint diseases in patients on longterm haemodialysis increase in frequency and are often caused by beta 2-microglobulin-related amyloid deposits. Due to the excellent visualisation of amyloid, MRI with T1-weighted and out-of-phase gradient recalled long TR images is the diagnostic modality of choice. 5 patients, 13 to 21 years on haemodialysis, were investigated. In four patients we found involvement of the atlantoaxial region, one patient was asymptomatic, the other three had severe neurological deficiencies.