Histopathology and clinical results of carpal tunnel syndrome in idiopathic cases and hemodialysis patients

The results of the histological examinations of specimens of the tenosynovium of the flexor tendon, the epineurium and the transverse carpal ligament from two groups of Japanese patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (idiopathic and hemodialysis) were compared. Amyloid deposits, positively identified as β 2 -microglobulin, appeared in all patients in the long-term hemodialysis group, but in no patients in the idiopathic group. Although the pathogenesis differed between the two groups, both resulted in nerve compression in the carpal tunnel. Therefore, surgical release is considered beneficial for both groups.