Current aspects of osteoarticular pathology in patients undergoing hemodialysis: study of 80 patients. Part 2. Laboratory and pathologic analysis. Discussion of the pathogenic mechanism.

Clinical and radiological analysis of a population of 80 patients undergoing hemodialysis showed a high incidence of joint symptoms and radiological abnormalities which could not with certainty be attributed to renal osteodystrophy (Part 1). In this same population, laboratory and pathologic studies were performed. Blood chemistry proved abnormal in most cases (fibrinogen, aluminum, beta 2 microglobulin). Histopathologic studies (bone or synovial) were performed in 20 samples. Amyloid deposits were found in 8 samples, and crystal deposits in 3. We consider the idea that amyloid may be responsible for the observed lesions to be an interesting possibility. A better understanding of the behavior of different dialysis membranes may clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms of this disease.