Morphologic changes in the esophagus in chronic hemodialysis and after kidney transplantation

: Oesophageal biopsies were studied in 80 patients with terminal stage of chronic kidney failure (CKF) treated with programmed hemodialysis and in 27 kidney transplant recipients. The following changes in the oesophagus were found: chronic oesophagitis, degenerative changes (oedema with balloon degeneration), intercellular oedema with formation of cavities filled with oedematous liquid, calcium deposits in the mucosa and submucosa. Degenerative changes occur more frequently in patients treated with hemodialysis and soon after the kidney transplantation. This can explain more frequent occurrence of Mallori-Weiss syndrome and erosions and ulcer of the oesophagus at CKF.