Dialysis arthropathy in Iraqi patients

Thirty consecutive patients receiving maintenance heamodialysis [fifteen males, fifteen females] were interviewed and examined to analyze their musculoskeletal problems. Twenty-four patients had musculoskeletal complaints, the commonest being arthralgia in 17, bone pain in 15, muscle weakness in 13, and muscle cramps in 12 patients. Proximal myopathy was detected in five patients, limitation of joints movement in 4 and joint swelling in 3 patients. No single patient had evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome. Radiographic abnormalities of renal osteodystrophy were found in ten patients and there was periarticular calcification in 6; no patient had gout or calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease