[Ultrasound diagnosis of soft tissue changes in dialysis-associated amyloidosis].

AIM: To develop criteria for the detection of long term dialysis-associated soft tissue changes due to amyloid deposits in various joints. METHOD: Ultrasonographic examination of the shoulder (15 patients), hip (5 patients), knee (6 patients) and elbow (2 patients) using a 7.5 or 5 MHz scanner. A total of 28 joints were examined. RESULTS: Soft tissue changes in long term dialysis were found to be associated with an increased thickness of the supraspinatus tendon and/or biceps tendon as well as joint effusions with echogenic zones. Moreover, increased thickness of the joint capsule and echogenic proliferation of the synovia were observed. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound is an inexpensive and suitable method in the diagnosis and follow-up of soft tissue changes in patients on long term dialysis.