Carpal tunnel syndrome in Hemodialysis patients

50 patients receiving hemodialysis with cuprophane membrane at the Hemodialysis Unit of Erciyes University were included in this study, designed to determine the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) related to beta-2-microglobulin (a 2 -m) amyloidosis. 40 age and sex matched healthy volunteers were included in the study as a control group. CTS was established by clinical symptoms and signs and electroneuromyography (EMG). After a thorough, rheumatologic standard examination, electroneuromyographic studies of median and ulnar nerves were performed. We found CTS in 15 of 50 patients who had received hemodialysis for an average of 33 months. The mean, median motor distal latency (mm-DL). and mean, median sensory distal latency (ms-DL) of the hemodialysis group (respectively: 4.60 n 1.58, 3.66 n 0.51) were significantly higher than those of the control group (respectively: 3.49 n 0.39, 3.21 0.33) (p 0.05). Although the mean duration of hemodialysis in our study was not as long as that in other studies, the prevalence of CTS in ours was high. One possible explanation for this is that CTS might develop earlier in hemodialysis patients. and its prevalence might also be higher than expected. We consider EMG. and particularly the sensorial study, as an important method in the early detection and follow-up of CTS in hemodialysis patients.