CARPAL-TUNNEL SYNDROME IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CAPD - A COLLABORATIVE STUDY IN 143 CENTERS

Patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) w ho developed carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) were retrospectively studied in 143 centers in Japan. Among the total 5,050 patients undergoing CA PD between 1980 and 1993 only 7 patients (0.14%) given CAPD developed CTS. Five of these 7 patients treated solely with CAPD developed CTS 1 2-108 months after starting CAPD. The remaining 2 patients who were in itially treated with HD for 7-9 years and then switched to CAPD develo ped this complication 9 years after starting CAPD. All 7 patients were women, ranging in age from 32 to 70 (average 52) years. We detected t he presence of amyloid deposits in 2 of 5 specimens and beta(2)-microg lobulin in 2 of 4 specimens from these patients. It was concluded that CAPD minimizes the emergence of CTS although constant surveillance is necessary to detect CTS in patients during CAPD.