| [ Summary ] |
On the basis of the results of a statistical survey conducted by the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy, the situation concerning dialysis-related amyloidosis in Japan is summarized. Out of the 106,552 patients who underwent facility hemodialysis in 1998, 5.1 % developed carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The percentage of patients requiring surgical carpal tunnel release (CTx) rapidly increases when the period on dialysis exceeds 10 years. The number of patients with CTx was large in patients between 45 and 74 years old. The society also analyzed risk factors related to incidence of CTx in the first year in 48,089 patients who underwent in-facility hemodialysis in 1997 three times a week but did not receive CTx procedures. From the results of this study, aging and a long history of dialysis (10 years or more) are considered to be strong risk factors for CTx development. Furthermore, the society analyzed the therapeutic effects of various blood purification methods on dialysis-related amyloidosis in 1,196 patients who underwent facility hemodialysis three times a week in 1998. From the results of that study a strong therapeutic effect was observed for hemodiafiltration (HDF), push / pull HDF treatment, as well as hemodialysis using a beta2-microglobulin adsorption column. |