Destructive spondylarthropathy in hemodialyzed patients: possible role of amyloidosis

Insights and preventive approaches of rod erosion in the occipital bone after complex posterior cervical spine surgery for destructive spondyloarthropathy: A case report

RATIONALE

Complications of rod migration into the occipital bone after upper cervical fusion are very rare. No other cases have been reported, especially when associated with destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA). The purpose of this case report is to remind clinicians of the risk of rod migration in cervical spine surgery in patients with DSA and to provide information on its causes, countermeasures, and treatment.

PATIENT CONCERN

This case report presents the clinical course of a 61-year-old female patient with chronic kidney disease that required hemodialysis.

DIAGNOSIS, INTERVENTION, OUTCOMES

The patient was diagnosed DSA involving the cervical spine. Initial treatment involved a halo vest, followed by anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion spanning from C5 to Th1. However, subsequent complications, including C5 fractures, kyphotic cervical alignment, and rod migration into the occipital bone, lead to multistage surgical interventions. This case highlights the challenges in managing DSA, the significance of optimal fixation strategies, and the importance of accounting for potential alignment changes.

CONCLUSION

The effective management of occipital bone erosion after posterior cervical spine surgery for destructive spondyloarthropathy necessitates meticulous fixation planning, proactive rod length adjustment, preoperative assessment of the occipital position, and consideration of the compensatory upper cervical range of motion to prevent migration-related issues.

Dynamization-Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Hemodialysis-Related Spondyloarthropathy: Evaluation of the Radiographic Outcomes and Reoperation Rate within 2 Years Postoperatively

Study Design

Clinical case series.

Purpose

This study aimed to report dynamization-posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), our surgical treatment for hemodialysisrelated spondyloarthropathy (HSA), and investigate patients' postoperative course within 2 years.

Overview of Literature

HSA often requires lumbar fusion surgery. Conventional PLIF for HSA may cause progressive destructive changes in the vertebral endplate, leading to progressive cage subsidence, pedicle screw loosening, and pseudoarthrosis. A dynamic stabilization system might be effective in patients with a poor bone quality. Thus, we performed "dynamization-PLIF" in hemodialysis patients with destructive vertebral endplate changes.

Methods

We retrospectively examined patients with HSA who underwent dynamization-PLIF at our hospital between April 2010 and March 2018. The radiographic measurements included lumbar lordosis and local lordosis in the fused segment. The evaluation points were before surgery, immediately after surgery, 1 year after surgery, and 2 years after surgery. The preoperative and postoperative radiographic findings were compared using a paired t-test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

We included 50 patients (28 males, 22 females). Lumbar lordosis and local lordosis were significantly improved through dynamization- PLIF (lumbar lordosis, 28.4°-35.5°; local lordosis, 2.7°-12.8°; p<0.01). The mean local lordosis was maintained throughout the postoperative course at 1- and 2-year follow-up (12.9°-12.8°, p=0.89 and 12.9°-11.8°, p=0.07, respectively). Solid fusion was achieved in 59 (89%) of 66 fused segments. Solid fusion of all fixed segments was achieved in 42 cases (84%). Within 2 years postoperatively, only six cases (12%) were reoperated (two, surgical debridement for surgical site infection; two, reoperation for pedicle screw loosening; one, laminectomy for epidural hematoma; one, additional fusion for adjacent segment disease).

Conclusions

Dynamization-PLIF showed local lordosis improvement, a high solid fusion rate, and a low reoperation rate within 2 years of follow-up.

Radiographic changes of cervical destructive spondyloarthropathy in long-term hemodialysis patients: A 9-year longitudinal observational study

Analyses of radiographic changes and clinical symptom of destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA) on consecutive 42 patients managed with long-term hemodialysis were performed to elucidate radiographic changes of DSA and the factors that influence to the destructive changes. Patients underwent plain radiographs of the cervical spine with 9 years interval. Grading of radiological feature from lateral view was classified into grade 0 to grade 3. Clinical symptom was evaluated using modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scoring system for cervical myelopathy (mJOA score). Destructive changes were observed in 3 patients at the first examination, and those were observed in 15 patients 9 years after the first examination. There is no statistically significant difference between the duration of hemodialysis and the grade. The mean age at the onset of hemodialysis, however, was significantly higher in patients of grade 2 and 3 than those of grade 1. Older patients with long-term hemodialysis had destructive changes. Destructive changes commonly observed in lower cervical spine. The average numbers of the involved disc level were 1.6 in grade 2 and 1.0 in grade 3. Clinical symptoms were varied in each grade and there was no statistically significant difference in total mJOA score among these grades. J. Med. Invest. 64: 68-73, February, 2017.

Prognosis and adjacent segment disease after lumbar spinal fusion surgery for destructive spondyloarthropathy in long-term hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Lumbar destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA) is a serious complication in long-term hemodialysis patients. There have not been many reports regarding the surgical management for lumbar DSA. In addition, the adjacent segment pathology after lumbar fusion surgery for DSA is unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical outcome and occurrence of adjacent segmental disease (ASD) after lumbar instrumented fusion surgery for DSA in long-term hemodialysis patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A consecutive series of 36 long-term hemodialysis patients who underwent lumbar instrumented fusion surgery for DSA were included in this study. The mean age at surgery was 65 years. The mean follow-up period was 4 years. Symptomatic ASD was defined as symptomatic spinal stenosis or back pain with radiographic ASD. The Japanese Orthopedic Association score (JOA score), recovery rate (Hirabayashi method), complications, and reoperation were reviewed.

RESULTS

The mean JOA score significantly increased from 13.5 before surgery to 21.3 at the final follow-up. The mean recovery rate was 51.4%. Six of the 36 patients died within 1 year after index surgery. One patient died due to perioperative complication. Symptomatic ASD occurred in 43% (13 of 30) of the cases. Of these 13 cases, 5 had adjacent segment disc degeneration and 8 had adjacent segment spinal stenosis. Three cases (10%) required reoperation due to proximal ASD. Multi-level fusion surgery increased the risk of ASD compared with single-level fusion surgery (59% vs. 23%). The recovery rate was significantly lower in the ASD group than the non-ASD group (38% vs. 61%).

DISCUSSION

This study demonstrated that symptomatic ASD occurred in 43% of patients after surgery for lumbar DSA. A high mortality rate and complication rate were observed in long-term hemodialysis patients. Therefore, care should be taken for preoperative planning for surgical management of DSA.

Surgical Management for Destructive Atlantoaxial Spondyloarthropathy in Long-Term Hemodialysis Patients

BACKGROUND

Atlantoaxial spondyloarthropathy most often results from rheumatoid arthritis, cancer metastasis, or basilar invagination. Dialysis-related spondyloarthropathy is a rare cause of spinal deformity and cervical myelopathy at the atlantoaxial joint. We report 2 patients on long-term hemodialysis who presented with atlantoaxial spondyloarthropathy.

CASE DESCRIPTION

Two patients with end-stage renal failure presented with a history of progressively worsening neck pain, motion limitation, and gait disturbance. In both patients, radiologic findings showed a bone-destroying soft tissue mass lateral to C1 and C2, compressing the spinal cord and causing atlantoaxial instability. We performed a C1 laminectomy and C12 transarticular screw fixation and biopsied the osteolytic mass. The neck pain, hand numbness, and gait disturbance improved.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the surgical management of these patients involves many challenges, appropriate decompression and fusion surgery is an effective treatment option.

Destructive Spondyloarthropathy in Patients on Long-Term Peritoneal Dialysis or Hemodialysis

Destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA) is the most serious spinal complication of dialysis-related amyloidosis in patients on long-term hemodialysis (HD), but we could not find any information about DSA in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) for over 10 years. We retrospectively evaluated factors contributing to DSA in HD and PD patients. Sixty-seven patients on dialysis for 10 to 19 years were compared between a PD group (n = 23) or a HD group (n = 44). In the PD group, nine patients (39%) developed DSA. The mean age of DSA patients was significantly higher than that of non-DSA patients (66.2 ± 10.0 vs. 51.0 ± 12.8 years, P = 0.03). The frequency of cervical spine DSA did not show any difference between the PD and HD groups, but the frequency of lumbar spine DSA showed a significant difference (22% vs. 5%, P = 0.04). The serum beta-2 microglobulin (B2MG) level was significantly higher in PD patients than in HD patients (38.4 mg/L vs. 27.4 mg/L, P = 0.0025). Mechanical stress such as elevation of the intra-abdominal pressure due to infusion of PD fluid (1500 mL to 2000 mL) for over 10 years might contribute to lumbar DSA in patients on long-term PD.

Renal osteodystrophy: neurosurgical considerations and challenges

BACKGROUND

Dialysis-associated destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA) is the major bony complication of end-stage renal disease, most commonly found in the lower cervical region. The risk factors for developing dialysis-associated DSA include duration of hemodialysis and patient age. Patients with DSA have a higher incidence of osteoporosis and poor bone mineral density, which may place them at greater risk of atraumatic fractures, instrumentation failure, and neurologic compromise.

METHODS

We describe a case of cervical radiculopathy due to dialysis-associated DSA atraumatic vertebral body fractures with a postoperative course that was complicated by instrumentation failure. We reviewed the literature regarding all 138 published cases, presenting the complications, surgical treatment options, and outcomes.

RESULTS

A 44-year-old dialysis-dependent man presented with acute neck pain, radiculopathy, and weakness due to atraumatic fracture of C5 and C6 vertebral bodies. He underwent anterior C5 and C6 corpectomies, reconstruction with mesh cage and plate, and supplemental posterior instrumentation (C4-T1). Six weeks later, a computed tomography scan revealed anterior translation across the instrumented area with failure of the posterior instrumentation. He subsequently underwent traction, revision reinstrumentation from C2 to T5, and placement of external halo ring/jacket for 6 months. At 18 months later, he remains ambulatory without evidence of construct failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with renal osteodystrophy present a challenge for the spine surgeon due to compromised bone density. Hardware failure at the bone-construct interface is common in these patients, with revision surgery needed in 22% of published cases. Longer constructs with circumferential instrumentation and halo immobilization may minimize the risk of pseudoarthrosis and construct pull-out.

Long-term follow up of surgical outcomes in patients with cervical disorders undergoing hemodialysis

Object

As increasing numbers of patients receive long-term hemodialysis, the number of reports regarding hemodialysis-related cervical spine disorders has also increased. However, there have been few reports summarizing the surgical results in patients with these disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term follow up and clinical results after surgical treatment of cervical disorders in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods

Seventeen patients in whom surgery was performed for cervical spine disorders while they received long-term hemodialysis therapy were enrolled in this study. Of these, 15 underwent follow-up review for more than 3 years after surgery, and these represent the study population. The remaining two patients died of postoperative sepsis. The average follow-up period was 120 months. Five patients without spinal instability underwent spinal cord decompression in which bilateral open-door laminoplasty was performed. Ten patients with destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA) underwent reconstructive surgery involving pedicle screw (PS) fixation. In eight patients in whom posterior instrumentation was placed, anterior strut bone grafting was performed with autologous iliac bone to treat anterior-column destruction. Marked neurological recovery was obtained in all patients after the initial surgery. In the mobile segments adjacent to the site of previous spinal fusion, the authors observed progressive destructive changes with significant instability in four patients (40%) who underwent circumferential spinal fusion. No patients required a second surgery after laminoplasty for spinal canal stenosis without DSA changes.

Conclusions

Cervical PS-assisted reconstruction provided an excellent fusion rate and good spinal alignment. During the long-term follow-up period, however, some cases required extension of the spinal fusion due to the destructive changes in the adjacent vertebral levels. Guidelines or recommendations to overcome these problems should be produced to further increase the survival rates of patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Progressive symptomatic kyphotic deformity after decompressive surgery for lumbar destructive spondyloarthropathy

Destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA) is a serious complication of haemodialysis for end stage renal failure. We present a case of a patient who complained of back pain and cruralgia due to L2-3 disc degeneration with instability, and was treated with posterior decompression and bone grafting. Soon after surgery, the kyphotic deformity progressed and the symptoms deteriorated. A correction of the deformity and posterior fusion was required six years after initial surgery. Pathological findings showed characteristic findings of DSA. Our findings indicate that in some cases with unstable DSA, spinal decompression as well as spinal fixation may be necessary.

Surgical therapy for dialysis-related spondyloarthropathy: review of 30 cases

Surgical therapy for dialysis-related spondyloarthropathy was investigated regarding its spinal manifestation. Between August 1985 and May 1998, 31 operations were performed on 16 male and 14 female patients; of these, 17 had cervical and 13 had lumbar spinal disorders. The average patient age was 59 years. The average period of hemodialysis was 14.8 years. Twenty-eight of 30 patients had cystic bone lesions and 24 had carpal tunnel syndrome. Four major postoperative complications occurred: death from paralysis and respiratory distress, severe kyphosis from the collapse of the grafted bone, deep infection from instrumentation, and wire breakage and bone fusion failure. Postoperative results with an average follow-up period of 2.7 years were good in 19 cases (63%), fair in 8 cases (27%), and poor in 3 cases (10%). As yet, surgical intervention for dialysis-related spondyloarthropathy is still regarded as a noncurative treatment; furthermore, the anterior approach to the cervical spine has a high risk for postoperative complications.

Surgical treatment of cervical destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA)

STUDY DESIGN

Sixteen patients with hemodialysis-associated cervical spine disorders underwent surgical treatment. After analysis of the surgical results, the optimum surgical procedures for these disorders were discussed.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the surgical results of cervical spine disorders associated with long-term hemodialysis and to propose the optimum surgical procedures for successful outcomes.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

There have been few reports regarding surgical results of hemodialysis-related cervical spine disorders. Surgical treatment for this disorder is still challenging.

METHODS

Sixteen patients with hemodialysis-associated cervical spine disorders were treated surgically. Duration of hemodialysis ranged from 8 to 27 years (average, 17 years). Before surgery, 14 patients showed severe cervical myelopathy, and the other 2 had radiculopathy in the upper extremities. Ten patients with marked destructive changes underwent circumferential reconstructive surgery involving pedicle screw fixation, anterior strut bone grafting, and posterior and/or anterior decompression. Two patients with cervical radiculopathy underwent posterior nerve root decompression by foraminotomy and fusion by pedicle screw fixation or spinous process wiring. The remaining four patients without spinal instability underwent posterior decompression by open-door laminoplasty.

RESULTS

Two patients died during follow-up. Follow-up periods in the surviving 14 patients ranged from 25 months to 92 months (average, 53 months). Marked neurologic recovery was obtained in all patients after surgery. Successful spinal fusion was obtained in all patients except one who underwent posterior fusion by spinous process wiring. Progressive destructive changes with significant instability at the adjacent mobile segments were observed in two patients who underwent circumferential fusion with a pedicle screw system more than 2 years after the initial surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The pedicle screw system achieved a high fusion rate in reconstructive surgery of cervical destructive spondyloarthropathy, even in the presence of severe bone fragility.

Pathologic features of spinal disorders in patients treated with long-term hemodialysis

STUDY DESIGN

Pathologic features of hemodialysis-associated spinal disorders were evaluated using preoperative radiographic images and histologic findings of the spinal lesions resected during surgery.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the pathology of hemodialysis-related spinal disorders and to determine the role of amyloidosis in the establishment of severe destruction of the spine.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The pathologic events leading to hemodialysis-associated spinal disorders are poorly understood. The distribution of amyloid deposits in the spine also has not been clarified.

METHODS

Twenty patients with hemodialysis-associated spinal disorders were investigated regarding pathologic features of neural compression and spinal destruction. Preoperative radiographic images such as plain radiography, tomography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and scintigraphy were assessed for the existence of an intracanal mass, hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum, and destructive changes of the spinal components. Histologic examination also was conducted by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to determine the distribution pattern of amyloid deposits in the spinal components.

RESULTS

Six patients with no destructive changes in the spine showed spinal canal stenosis. In the cervical spine, a main factor associated with spinal canal stenosis was the presence of intracanal amyloid deposits in three patients. In the lumbar spine, a main factor associated with spinal canal stenosis was hypertrophied ligamentum flavum in three patients. Destructive changes of the facet joints, intervertebral disc, and vertebral body were seen in the other 14 patients. Amyloid deposits were densely distributed at the enthesis of capsular fibers to the bone and in anular tears in the intervertebral discs. Vertebral end plates were destroyed by penetration of amyloid granulation into the vertebral body. Osteoclast activity in the destroyed vertebral bodies was enhanced, with no evidence of new bone formation.

CONCLUSIONS

Amyloid deposits played an important role in the progression of spinal destruction and severe instability.

Dialysis-associated spondylarthropathy. Report of 10 cases

Ten patients undergoing long-term renal dialysis for end-stage renal failure developed a destructive, non-infectious spondylarthropathy. All 10 patients had biopsy-proven dialysis-associated spondylarthropathy and subsequent spinal instability secondary to beta 2-microglobulin deposition in the vertebrae, intervertebral disc spaces, and support structures of the spine. Nine patients had cervical spinal instability and one had thoracolumbar spinal instability, with resultant neural compression. In at least one patient, the spinal instability was rapidly progressive. All had received renal dialysis for 34 months or longer (mean 109 months, range 34 to 154 months). Each patient required spinal stabilization (external in seven patients, internal in three). Nine of the 10 patients underwent neural decompression and spinal stabilization and fusion procedures. One patient's neurological condition was worse following surgery due to a postoperative cervical epidural hematoma; in the other nine patients, the presenting symptoms and signs improved. Three of these chronically ill patients did not survive their hospitalization, for a perioperative mortality rate of 30%. Death was due to cardiopulmonary arrest in two patients on Day 5 and 9 postoperatively and to sepsis in the third on Day 14. Of the seven early survivors, two additional patients died: one on Day 59 due to congestive heart failure and the other on Day 273 due to a cerebrovascular accident. Four of five patients who were followed for 8 months or longer (mean 14 months, range 8 to 20 months) had successful neural decompression and spinal stabilization procedures with evidence of stable bone fusion, indicating that these chronically ill, difficult-to-manage patients can be successfully treated. Clinicians who treat patients with renal disease and neurosurgeons who treat spinal disorders should be aware of dialysis-associated spondylarthropathy as a potential cause of degenerative vertebral column instability.

Unifying features of systemic and cerebral amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is a generic term for a group of clinically and biochemically diverse diseases that are characterized by the deposition of an insoluble fibrillar protein in the extracellular space. Over 16 biochemically distinct amyloids are known. Despite this diversity, all amyloids have a particular ultrastructural and tinctorial appearance, a beta-pleated sheet structure, and are codeposited with a group of amyloid-associated proteins. The most common amyloidosis is Alzheimer's disease (AD), where A beta is the main component of the amyloid. Recently it has been found that A beta exists as a normal soluble protein (sA beta) in biological fluids. This links AD more closely to some of the systemic amyloidoses, where the amyloid precursor is found in the circulation normally. Numerous mutations have been found in the A beta precursor (beta PP) gene, associated with familial AD. Many mutations are also found in some of the hereditary systemic amyloidoses. For example, over 40 mutations in the transthyretin (TTR) gene are associated with amyloid. However, both A beta and TTR related amyloid deposition can occur with no mutation. The pathogenesis of amyloid is complex, and appears to be associated with genetic and environmental risk factors that can be similar in the systemic and cerebral amyloidoses.

The effect of dialyzer reprocessing on performance and beta 2-microglobulin removal using polysulfone membranes

Increased biocompatibility and lower cost are the two major arguments favoring routine dialyzer reprocessing. The impact of longer-term reprocessing is critical to the practical use of polysulfone membranes (PMs), because of the possibility of decreasing efficiency and performance, especially in the removal of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M), a protein that has been implicated in the development of dialysis-associated amyloidosis (DDA). In this study, we examine urea clearance (Kd), urea mass transfer coefficient (h0), ultrafiltration coefficient (K(uf)), and percent removal of beta 2M up to 24 uses. The study involved 11 patients on hemodialysis for 5.27 +/- 4.6 years, with a mean age of 62.5 +/- 9.7 years and average run-time treatment of 2.78 +/- 0.3 hours. PMs were tested after being reprocessed manually using bleach and formaldehyde. The efficacy of the dialyzer was examined on uses 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 24, and the percent removal of beta 2M was determined except in the twentieth use and corrected for ultrafiltration. The Kd obtained through 24 uses showed no significant change, although h0 was significantly increased in the fifteenth use, and K(uf) was significantly increased in the 10th and 20th use (P < 0.05). The percent removal of beta 2M increased significantly from 44.1 +/- 2.8 (mean +/- SEM) in the first use to 59.4 +/- 2.19 (P < 0.05) in the 10th use, and 62.1 +/- 4.07 and 63.1 +/- 4.27 in the 15th and 24th uses, respectively (P < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Erosive spondyloarthropathy in primary hyperparathyroidism without renal failure

A patient with erosive spondyloarthropathy (ESA) and primary hyperparathyroidism is described. In the past, ESA has been described exclusively in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and has been attributed to crystal deposition, amyloidosis, severe secondary hyperparathyroidism, or other abnormalities of chronic renal failure. This patient with normal renal function suggests that secondary hyperparathyroidism plays the major pathogenetic role in ESA in patients with renal failure.

Cervical discs are most susceptible to beta 2-microglobulin amyloid deposition in the vertebral column

Intervertebral discs of 41 chronic renal failure autopsy cases were examined histologically and immunohistochemically to assess the distribution of beta 2-microglobulin-associated (beta 2m) amyloid in the vertebral column. The results demonstrated beta 2m amyloid to appear first in the cervical discs, then in the lumbar and upper thoracic discs, and finally in the middle and lower thoracic discs as the dialysis period is prolonged. The shortest dialysis period for which beta 2m amyloid was detected was one year and seven months. Deposition of beta 2m amyloid was most remarkable in the C4-5, 5-6, and 6-7 levels, which are known to sustain severe mechanical stress in daily life. Thus it is suggested that local mechanical stress accelerates beta 2m amyloidosis. A marked macrophage reaction was observed around the amyloid in cases of severe amyloidosis, the macrophages themselves being immunohistochemically positive for IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha. Amyloid deposition and reactive inflammation mediated by cytokines appear to be closely related to the pathogenesis of destructive spondyloarthropathy.

Musculoskeletal manifestations in beta 2-microglobulin amyloidosis. Case discussion

The cases presented illustrate some of the typical (case 1) and less common (case 2) clinical features of beta 2m amyloidosis. The accumulation of beta 2m amyloid in tissues is a potentially severe complication of dialysis-treated chronic renal failure. Beta 2m amyloidosis has been shown to have distinct clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features. The pathogenesis of this condition is not yet clearly understood, and recommendations for the clinical management of these patients at present are limited to recognition of the disease and symptomatic treatment. Further insights into the biology of this disease should lead to new strategies for prevention and treatment.

Fatal destructive cervical spondyloarthropathy in two patients on long-term dialysis

Two patients with fatal cervical cord compressive myelopathy are described, both of whom had been on dialysis for more than 15 years. Destructive changes were noted in mid and upper cervical regions, with soft tissue mass in the atlanto-occipital region in one patient. Clinical and radiographic findings suggest both amyloid and hyperparathyroidism as possible etiologies for these destructive spinal changes. Clinicians should be aware that the full picture of quadriparesis may be associated with destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA) in long-term dialysis patients.

Generalized amyloidosis from beta 2-microglobulin, with caecal perforation after long-term haemodialysis

A 73-year-old man with chronic renal failure of undetermined aetiology had received haemodialysis for 12 years when he died of acute purulent peritonitis due to caecal perforation. Amyloid deposits detected in a cystic bone lesion in the left hip had caused a pathological fracture 17 days before death. At autopsy, extensive amyloid deposits were found in the osteoarticular system, in the cartilaginous surface and the capsular tissue of joints, ligaments, vertebral discs and bone. In addition, vascular amyloid deposits were diagnosed in the heart, kidneys, testes, lungs, skin and in the gastrointestinal tract. A special feature of this case were interstitial amyloid deposits forming a fine-meshed structure in the myocardium and plate-like deposits in the gastrointestinal tract. Immunohistochemically, all these deposits reacted strongly with antibody to human beta 2-microglobulin but showed no reaction with antibodies to AA, A-lambda, A-kappa and AF. The present case demonstrates that extra-osteoarticular manifestations of AB-amyloidosis can cause serious complications.

Role of amyloid in dialysis-related arthropathies. A morphological analysis of 23 cases

The role of beta 2-microglobulin-related amyloidosis in the articular syndromes associated with long-term haemodialysis was analysed in a series of 23 haemodialysed patients from whom 43 amyloid-containing osteoarticular specimens were obtained. Patients with clinical arthropathy had more intense and deep synovial involvement by amyloid than asymptomatic ones. Amyloid proved to be an agent for bone destruction, causing bone cysts and cortical erosions. Amyloid deposition in cartilage was found constantly, leading to fissures and irregularities in the articular surface. From our observations, amyloid seems to be the main pathogenetic factor involved in articular swelling, destructive arthropathies and pathological fractures occurring in haemodialysed patients, although other disturbances related to haemodialysis could play a role.

Beta 2-microglobulin amyloidosis in hemodialysis patients. An autopsy study of intervertebral disks and posterior longitudinal ligaments

Ninety-five autopsy cases of chronic renal failure, which had or had not been treated by hemodialysis, were examined histologically and immunohistochemically for evidence of amyloid deposition in the intervertebral disks and posterior longitudinal ligaments of the spine. beta 2-Microglobulin (beta 2M) amyloid was not present in non-dialyzed patients with chronic renal failure. In cases showing beta 2M amyloid deposition, the shortest term of hemodialysis was 2 years and 5 months. The incidence of beta 2M amyloidosis tended to increase as the dialysis period was prolonged. An inverse correlation was present between dialysis period and age in 22 cases showing beta 2M amyloid deposition (correlation coefficient: -0.43, p less than 0.05), and beta 2M amyloidosis tended to occur earlier in elderly patients than in younger patients. This suggests that elderly patients are more susceptible to beta 2M amyloidosis. beta 2M amyloid was absent in all of 8 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus which were treated by dialysis for periods ranging from 2 days to 12 years. In these patients, beta 2M amyloidosis may have been prevented by steroids, which had been administered for long periods in all cases. Another amyloid of unknown composition was also frequently present in the intervertebral disks and posterior longitudinal ligaments not only in patients with chronic renal failure but also control patients without chronic renal failure. This amyloid was immunohistologically negative for beta 2M, amyloid A protein, light chain kappa or lambda, prealbumin, and apolipoprotein A-II.

[Amyloid arthropathy of the hand in patients on chronic hemodialysis]

Among 70 patients treated by hemodialysis for renal failure and operated for carpal tunnel syndromes, 17 presented with bone and joint lesions. Seven of them had destructive arthropathies of the distal interphalangeal joint, bilateral in 6 cases. Two radiological stages are described. Radiolucent lesions of the carpal bones were present in all the patients ("carpal amyloidosis"). The most frequent sites were around the radius-scaphoid-lunate and scaphoid-lunate joint spaces. Scaphoid-trapezoid-trapezium arthropathy was frequent with dynamic instability in one case. One patient had a pathological fracture of the lunate and scaphoid. Carpal tunnel syndrome was associated in all cases and dorsal wrist tenosynovitis in three cases. Amyloid arthropathy is more frequent in old patients on long-term hemodialysis. Amyloid deposits were shown in tendinous and joint synovial biopsy. The pathogenesis of amyloidosis is discussed.

beta 2-Microglobulin amyloidosis. A systemic amyloid disease affecting primarily synovium and bone in long-term dialysis patients

A number of rheumatic disorders occur in patients on long-term hemodialysis treatment. In recent years a clinical syndrome comprising carpal tunnel syndrome, destructive arthropathy, and cystic bone lesions has been recognized in these patients. Congo-red staining and microscopy in polarized light reveal a high frequency of amyloid in the affected tissues. Amino acid sequence data of the isolated major amyloid fibril protein show its identity with beta 2-microglobulin. beta 2-microglobulin amyloid has a predilection for synovial tissues and bone, but visceral deposits may also occur indicating the systemic nature of the disease. The clinicopathological features, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of beta 2-microglobulin amyloidosis are reviewed, and the therapeutic and prophylactic measures discussed. The identification of beta 2-microglobulin as an amyloidogenic protein has in an important way contributed to the understanding of the mechanisms of amyloidogenesis in general and emphasized the complexity of amyloid disease and the diversity of proteins capable of forming congophilic fibrillar deposits in human tissues.

Rheumatic syndromes and beta 2-microglobulin amyloidosis in patients receiving long-term peritoneal dialysis

We studied 56 patients who had been receiving peritoneal dialysis for greater than 3 years, to investigate the prevalence of rheumatic diseases suggestive of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) amyloid deposition. Eight patients were found to have carpal tunnel syndrome, 16 had chronic shoulder pain, 8 had subchondral bone cysts, and 13 had destructive arthropathies. Amyloid reacting with anti-beta 2m was demonstrated in the hip synovium of 1 patient. Serum beta 2m levels were elevated in all patients. These data suggest that peritoneal dialysis, like hemodialysis, may lead to the development of an arthropathy associated with beta 2m accumulation and beta 2m amyloid deposition.

'Dialysis related arthropathy': a survey of 95 patients receiving chronic haemodialysis with special reference to beta 2 microglobulin related amyloidosis

Ninety five patients receiving chronic haemodialysis (CHD) were surveyed to determine the prevalence of rheumatic disease and, where possible, its aetiology. At least three distinct rheumatic syndromes were identified--a group of patients with a syndrome consisting of large and medium joint synovial swelling, restricted hips and shoulders, tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and bone cysts due to deposition of beta 2 microglobulin related amyloid (AM beta 2m); a second group with erosive azotaemic osteoarthropathy; and a third group with age related degenerative disease of small, large, and axial joints. The data presented suggest that in patients receiving CHD (a) the prevalence of AM beta 2m deposition and the associated syndrome increases with duration of dialysis, but in patients who have been dialysed for more than 10 years the risk of developing AM beta 2m is related to age; (b) AM beta 2m deposition in subchondral cysts, but not synovium, causes joint destruction; also, AM beta 2m may be more prone to deposition in synovium of joints already damaged by other processes; (c) in the absence of synovial iron deposition synovial AM beta 2m is not associated with an inflammatory infiltrate; (d) hyperparathyroidism and perhaps other factors such as synovial iron deposition are probably more important than AM beta 2m as causes of peripheral joint degeneration and destructive spondyloarthropathy in patients receiving CHD.

Amyloid syndromes associated with hemodialysis

A historical review and current clinical findings relating a new type of amyloid material to long term hemodialysis are presented, followed by a review of the biochemistry, metabolism and involvement of beta 2-M and theories for the pathogenesis of HRA. The syndromes develop several years after replacement of renal function by dialysis, and seem to be progressive over time. Preliminary clinical studies utilizing more permeable artificial kidney membranes suggest their potential usefulness in the prevention of HRA syndromes, specifically those attributable to persistent elevation of serum beta 2-M; however, caution in their employment is advised. The development of effective treatment for long-term hemodialysis patients afflicted with CTS, arthritic symptoms and skeletal manifestations of HRA is unfortunately constrained by deficiencies in our knowledge. Renal transplantation has been demonstrated to reduce the elevated serum beta 2-M levels in hemodialysis patients to normal; however, the effectiveness of this modality to treat clinical manifestations of HRA has not been reported. Thus, efficacious treatment strategies have lagged considerable behind diagnostic techniques. Intensive research is needed as the story of this new form of renal osteodystrophy unfolds.

Erosive spondyloarthropathy in long-term dialysis patients: relationship to severe hyperparathyroidism

We describe the development of a destructive, erosive spondyloarthropathy in three long-term dialysis patients (mean duration of dialysis, 96 months). In all three patients, the lesions caused symptomatic vertebral pain and developed during a period of only a few months. All patients had extremely elevated levels of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone, and two patients had evidence of severe hyperparathyroidism on bone biopsy specimens. Two patients who underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy had rapid relief of symptoms and no further radiographic evidence of progression of the spondyloarthropathy. The third patient refused subtotal parathyroidectomy and had pronounced progression of the destructive spondyloarthropathy in the cervical spine. The limited experience of others, along with our currently reported findings, strongly suggests that hyperparathyroidism plays a major role in the development of this disorder. Erosive spondyloarthropathy is increasingly recognized in long-term dialysis patients and may be a unique clinical and radiographic manifestation of severe hyperparathyroidism in this population.

Radionuclide exploration of dialysis amyloidosis: preliminary experience

The noninvasive diagnosis of amyloid arthropathy in dialysis patients is still uncertain. Therefore, we investigated the potential diagnostic value of the 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate scan in seven long-term hemodialysis patients suffering from chronic joint pain who had biopsy-proven osteoarticular amyloidosis of the recently discovered beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) type. In six, but in none of five control patients on short-term hemodialysis, increased tracer uptake was found at the site of one or several articular and/or periarticular regions. Increased uptake at a given joint was often, but not always, associated with joint pain. It appeared to precede radiologically visible changes. In conclusion, the 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate scan may be of help in the early diagnosis of dialysis amyloidosis.

Dialysis-related beta 2 microglobulin-amyloid arthropathy. Improvement of clinical symptoms after a switch of dialysis membranes

Amyloidosis containing beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2m) and joint pains are frequent complications of long-term hemodialysis. In a prospective study the authors planned to act on dialysis arthropathies (DA) by improving beta 2m depuration: for 8 patients suffering from DA we replaced usual cuprophane membranes (CU) by high permeability polyacrylonitrile membranes (PAN). DA was diagnosed on the presence of severe disabling arthralgias in the absence of any other obvious etiology, and on the presence of at least 3 among 6 criteria. The efficacy of the switch of DM was assessed on 6 criteria including the patient's own evaluation at the end of the study and a joint pain severity index. Clinical evaluation and beta 2m measurement were carried out at the start of the trial and after a mean duration of dialysis on PAN of 6 months. An improvement in joint symptomatology and a decrease of joint severity index were noted in the 8 cases. Our results suggest that the change of DM has a favorable influence on DA. This improvement could result either from a better beta 2m depuration or from a better biocompatibility of PAN than the CU previously used.

Hemodialysis is not essential for the development of destructive spondylarthropathy in patients with chronic renal failure

Since 1984, there have been several reports of a destructive spondylarthropathy occurring in patients who have received hemodialysis over a long period of time. Two cases of a similar syndrome were observed in nonhemodialyzed patients with chronic renal failure, one of whom underwent a lumbar disc excision. The results of disc examination and of radiographic and biologic investigations prompted reconsideration of factors previously considered to be pathogenetic (amyloidosis, hydroxyapatite crystal deposition, aluminum toxicity), except one: secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Hemodialysis-associated amyloidosis and beta-2 microglobulin. Clinical and immunohistochemical study

The beta-2 microglobulin type of amyloidosis was identified in articular and para-articular tissues of 14 patients with non-amyloid nephropathies undergoing long-term hemodialysis. Ten patients had carpal tunnel syndrome, 13 had juxta-articular radiolucent cysts (complicated by spontaneous fractures of the femoral neck in three), and six had destructive arthropathies of the large joints of the limbs. Massive amyloid deposits were found in the synovium, capsule, ligaments, articular cartilage, and/or bone. They were characterized by Congo red-induced green birefringence that was sensitive to potassium permanganate treatment. They reacted with anti-beta-2 microglobulin antiserum, whereas they did not react with antibodies directed against AA protein, prealbumin, or immunoglobulins. These data suggest that the potentially disabling arthropathy of hemodialysis is due to amyloid lesions. The persistently elevated plasma beta-2 microglobulin levels may play a role in the pathogenesis of this recently recognized complication, and if so, this complication should be preventable.

Clinical picture of the amyloid arthropathy in patients with chronic renal failure maintained on haemodialysis using cellulose membranes

The clinical picture of 15 patients (10 male, five female) with amyloid arthropathy secondary to chronic renal failure treated with haemodialysis has been studied. The average period of haemodialysis was 10.8 years. Joint symptoms appeared between three and 13 years after starting haemodialysis. No patient had renal amyloidosis. Early symptoms were varied and often overlapped: knee swelling (seven patients), painful and stiff shoulders (seven), and carpal tunnel syndrome (six) were the most prominent. Follow up showed extension to other joints. Joint effusions were generally of the non-inflammatory type. Radiologically, geodes and erosions of variable sizes were seen in the affected joints, which can develop into a destructive arthropathy. Amyloid was found in abdominal fat in three of the 12 patients on whom a needle aspiration was performed. Four of 12 patients showed changes compatible with amyloid infiltration in the echocardiogram. One patient had amyloid in the gastric muscular layer, another in the colon mucus, and two of four in rectal biopsy specimens. Amyloid deposits showed the presence of beta 2 microglobulin in 10 patients. The clinical and radiological picture was similar to the amyloid arthropathy associated with multiple myeloma. These patients can develop systemic amyloidosis.

Polymerization of intact beta 2-microglobulin in tissue causes amyloidosis in patients on chronic hemodialysis

Systemic amyloidosis with a predilection for bone and synovium may complicate the course of patients on long-term hemodialysis. This form of amyloidosis can be typed as distinct from other amyloid diseases by using small tissue samples obtained by bone biopsy and at postmortem. Immunoblot analysis of two-dimensional gels of partially solubilized amyloid fibrils established that tissue deposits are composed of monomers, dimers, and higher polymers of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) and that amyloid P component was also present. Anti-beta 2m antiserum recognized fibrils, as shown by immunoelectron microscopy. Purified monomer isolated from dissociated fibrils yielded peptides corresponding to the entire known sequence of beta 2m. Virtually all serum beta 2m, as well as that present in tissue fluid bathing amyloid fibrils, was monomeric. Hemodialysis-related amyloidosis is an example of a deposition disease occurring in hemodialysis patients. We have shown conclusively that, in this amyloid disease, polymerization of an intact normal serum protein to a fibrillar configuration may occur without proteolysis. We propose the designation A beta 2m for this form of amyloid fibril subunit protein.