[Destructive spondylarthropathy with amyloid deposits in 3 patients on chronic hemodialysis]

Destructive spondyloarthropathy is a recently described complication of chronic hemodialysis. Three patients presenting spondyloarthropathy with destructive discovertebral lesions of the cervical or lumbar sections of the spine underwent surgery due to neurologic complications: persistent radiculalgia (two cases), regressive tetraparesis (one case). Discal lesions were associated with dislocation of the posterior intervertebral articulations and slipping of vertebrae. These patients had been receiving chronic hemodialysis for more than ten years; two presented hyperparathyroidism and blood aluminum was markedly increased in all cases. Two patients had undergone surgery for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. Anatomopathological examination of surgical specimens demonstrated the presence of amyloid deposits in the intervertebral disc. This suggests that amyloidosis, which is frequently seen with carpal tunnel syndrome in patients receiving prolonged hemodialysis, also plays a role in the development of spondyloarthropathy.