Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1995 Sep;99(3):243-8.
doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(99)80155-7.

Dialysis arthropathy: outcome after renal transplantation

T Bardin  1 , J L Lebail-Darné, J Zingraff, J D Laredo, M C Voisin, H Kreis, D Kuntz
Affiliations

Dialysis arthropathy: outcome after renal transplantation

T Bardin et al. Am J Med. 1995 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose: Patients treated by long-term maintenance hemodialysis frequently develop a form of chronic arthropathy that is strongly associated with beta 2-microglobulin amyloid deposition and related, at least in part, to beta 2-microglobulin retention. Successful renal transplantation is followed by a rapid fall in serum beta 2-microglobulin levels and might allow dissolution of amyloid deposits. The purpose of this work was to investigate the effects of renal transplantation on dialysis arthropathy.

Patients and methods: Fourteen renal transplant recipients were selected on the basis of previous hemodialysis treatment for at least 10 years (mean 16) and a history of chronic joint pain prior to transplantation. They all received 10 to 17.5 mg/d of prednisone. Posttransplant rheumatologic manifestations were studied prospectively and compared to pretransplant rheumatologic manifestations recorded in medical charts and reported during patient interviews. Pretransplant and posttransplant articular roentgenograms were separately analyzed by three observers who were blinded to timing of the films. Beta 2-microglobulin amyloid was identified by Congo red staining and immunohistology.

Results: After a mean posttransplant interval of 54 months (range 12 to 121), the articular condition was improved in 10 patients, unchanged in 1, and worsened in 3, according to patients' assessments. The number of painful joints decreased significantly (P < 0.05) as compared to the pretransplant period. However, the number and size of subchondral bone erosions remained unchanged, destructive arthropathies generally worsened, and articular beta 2-microglobulin amyloid deposits were identified in 2 patients, 2 and 10 years after renal transplantation, respectively.

Conclusion: Renal transplantation appeared to arrest progression of beta 2-microglobulin amyloid in dialysis patients, but it neither led to dissolution of deposits nor prevented progression of destructive arthropathies. Most articular symptoms were improved, probably as a result of corticosteroid therapy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

Publication types