Carpal tunnel syndrome in patients on long-term hemodialysis

Sixteen cases with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) were reported out of 412 patients on long-term hemodialysis due to chronic renal failure. Clinical symptoms included numbness in the area innervated by the median nerve in 100% of symptomatic hands and pain in the wrist and hand in 81%. This pain usually became severer at night and during hemodialysis. Muscle atrophy was noted in 41% of the hands. Nerve conduction studies revealed prolonged distal sensory latency, slowed sensory nerve conduction velocity across the wrist and normal distal motor latency in 18%, prolonged distal motor latency in 51% and no response in motor or sensory stimulation in 31%. Evidence of denervation on electromyography was seen in 36% of the hands. Patients were conservatively treated avoiding daily activities precipitating the condition with volar wrist splint only at night in 18% and in 90% with steroid hormone injection in the carpal tunnel. Median nerve release was performed in 18% of the hands. Amyloid deposit was demonstrated in 3 of 4 operated hands. Although the relation between long-term hemodialysis and the occurrence of the amyloid deposition in the carpal tunnel has not been established, the present data along with other recent reports strongly indicate that amyloid deposit in the carpal tunnel on hemodialysis patients could be one of the most possible cause of CTS.