Autopsy findings in diabetic nephropathy patients under dialysis, collected from the annuals of pathological autopsy cases in Japan.

Collected from the Annuals of Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan (1958-1980), autopsy findings of diabetic patients under dialysis were studied in 103 cases on peritoneal dialysis and 103 cases on hemodialysis. Direct causes of death in 13 cases (12.6%) of the 103 diabetic patients on peritoneal dialysis and in 8 cases (7.8%) of the 103 diabetic patients on hemodialysis was infections, and in seven cases (6.8%) on peritoneal dialysis and 19 cases (18.4%) on hemodialysis was bleeding. The incidence of bleeding in diabetic patients on hemodialysis was significantly higher than that in peritoneal dialysis cases (p less than 0.025). Other direct causes of death in diabetic patients on dialysis included myocardial infarction, uremia, pulmonary edema, liver cirrhosis and carcinoma. No significant difference was seen between peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis, except the incidence of complications of bleeding and pericarditis.