[Tendon rupture in chronic kidney insufficiency--"uremic tendonopathy"? A literature-supported documentation of 3 cases].

This is a report on three cases with spontaneous ruptures of major tendons of the lower extremities. In two cases ruptures occurred in the quadriceps tendon, one of them bilaterally, and in one case in the Achilles' tendon. All patients suffered from chronic renal failure and were treated by long-term hemodialysis. Coincidentally secondary hyperparathyroidism was noticed twice. The pathophysiological relation between chronic renal failure and spontaneous tendon rupture is still unknown. An "uremic tendopathy" is discussed.