Upper gastrointestinal disease in chronic renal failure. A prospective evaluation

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Gastroenterology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Chronic renal failure (CRF) impacts multiple organ systems.
• Patients with CRF on hemodialysis may have an increased risk of gastrointestinal complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence and nature of upper gastrointestinal diseases in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 85 chronic renal failure patients on hemodialysis.
• Upper gastrointestinal X-rays, panendoscopy, and mucosal biopsy examinations were performed.
• Radiological, endoscopic, and pathological findings were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Enlarged gastric and duodenal folds were observed in 12% and 42% of patients via X-ray.
• Endoscopy revealed gastritis (22%), nodular duodenitis (60%), and esophagitis (13%).
• Pathology confirmed gastritis in 46% and duodenitis in 43% of patients; no peptic ulcers were identified.

Conclusions:

• There is a high incidence of upper gastrointestinal mucosal inflammation in CRF patients on hemodialysis.
• Peptic ulcer disease is uncommon in this patient population.
• These inflammatory lesions may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly after renal transplantation.