| [ Summary ] |
Systemic lupus erythematosus patients often have relapses or experience refractory disease following treatment. Consequently, to manage diseases some of these patients must receive hemodialysis therapy. In most cases, patients must be treated with steroid and/or immunosuppressive therapy because their disease activity is still high. It is imperative to monitor these patients for anti-phospholipid syndrome, increased susceptibility to infection, and adverse effects of prolonged use of steroids. In contrast, the vast majority of rheumatoid arthritis patients need to be treated for rheumatoid arthritis. This is so for maintenance dialysis patients also. This is because the risk of active arthritis remains markedly high. Our study demonstrated that patients with amyloidosis had a higher mortality rates. Programmed initiation of hemodyalysis would improve the prognosis for patients with end stage renal disease. Additionally, in cases where surgical arteriovenous shunts are fashioned, it is necessary to pay attention to estimates on future progression of joint deformities. |