DESTRUCTIVE SPONDYLOARTHROPATHY IN A PATIENT ON CONTINUOUS AMBULATORYPERITONEAL-DIALYSIS FOR 13 YEARS

Since 1984 there have been reports of a destructive spondyloarthropath y occurring in patients on long-term hemodialysis. The primary abnorma lity appears to be an accumulation of beta2-microglobulin, which is no t adequately removed by dialysis, and forms amyloid deposits in articu lar and periarticular tissues. We report a case of this disease in a p atient treated only by peritoneal dialysis. While this form of treatme nt may delay the development of arthropathy, as compared to hemodialys is, it does not prevent it. An increasing incidence of this disorder m ay be expected, since increasing numbers of patients have been on long -term peritoneal dialysis.