INFLUENCE OF DIALYSIS MEMBRANES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIALYSIS ASSOCIATED OSTEOARTHROPATHY

The influence of the dialysis membrane and the patients' ages on the d evelopment of dialysis osteoarthropathy was studied in 25 patients who had been on hemodialysis for more than 10 years. The patients were di alyzed with cuprophane membranes, and then treated with polyacrylonitr ile AN 69. Radiolucent bone cysts (at least 5 mm in diameter in the wr ists and at least 10 mm in the shoulders or hips) were evaluated by X- ray and confirmed by CT scan. The patients with bone cysts (N = 9) had been exposed significantly more to cuprophane dialysis and significan tly less to AN 69 dialysis than the patients without bone cysts (N = 1 6). There was no significant difference in the total duration of dialy sis between the two groups. The average age was significantly greater in patients with bone cysts than in patients without bone cysts. The s everity of the cystic bone lesions correlated positively with the pati ent's age and the duration of dialysis using cuprophane membranes, and negatively with the duration of dialysis using AN 69. These findings suggest that the development of dialysis osteoarthropathy may be relat ed to both age and the use of cuprophane membranes. Hemodialysis using AN 69 may prevent, or at least postpone the development of dialysis a myloidosis.