RESUMO
To determine the sonographic prevalence of Acquired Cystic Renal Disease [ACRD] in patients on maintenance haemodialysis and its relationship to the duration on dialysis. All patients with end stage renal disease [ESRD] who were receiving maintenance haemodialysis in Urology Department of Mayo Hospital Lahore between November 1997 to February 1998 were screened by ultrasound for the prevalence of ACRD. Forty patients with ESRD on maintenance haemodialysis were evaluated. The mean age of patients was 39.9 years. The male to female ratio was 2.3:1. Four patients [10%] had documented ACRD. The proportion of patients with ACRD increased with increasing duration of dialysis; ACRD was found in 60% of patients who had dialysis for more than 3 years, 20% in those who had been dialyzed for 1-3 years, and no patient developed ACRD who was on dialysis for less than one year. All patients remained asymptomatic except one, who had intermittent macroscopic haematuria. There was no evidence of neoplasm in any of these patients on clinical grounds or on ultrasound. We found a low prevalence of ACRD in the population studied compared to previously published series. This can be explained by the fact that most of our patients were on dialysis for less than one year. A further study is suggested with greater numbers in a center where patient stay on dialysis for longer period and patient turnover is low