Effect of haemodialysis on upper gastrointestinal tract pathology in patients with chronic renal failure

Upper gastrointestinal tract pathology observed at autopsy in 94 patients with end-stage renal disease (GFR less than 10 ml/min) was analysed retrospectively. To better evaluate the effect of haemodialysis on this pathology, the chronic renal failure patients were subdivided into three groups: 19 patients who had died before haemodialysis treatment could be undertaken (group I), 21 patients who had died during the first month (group II), and 54 patients who had died after at least one month of haemodialysis treatment (group III). The results revealed that the number of patients with upper gastrointestinal tract pathology was significantly higher in groups I and II (58% and 57% respectively) as compared to group III (31%) and controls (35%). No difference could be demonstrated between group III and controls. The most prevalent lesions observed were gastritis, followed by gastric and peptic ulcers. The incidence of this pathology appeared to decline as the duration of dialysis therapy increased. Mortality caused by upper gastrointestinal tract pathology remained high during the first two years of treatment in group III, despite a smaller incidence of upper tract lesions. This was explained by a relatively higher proportion of haemorrhage.