Ultrasound in Amyloid Arthropathy Diagnosis in Patients Receiving Long-term Dialysis
Aim of the study was to work out ultrasound signs of amyloid arthropathy in patients receiving longterm dialysis. Shoulder and hip joints ultrasound was done to 80 patients with chronic kidney disease (5 <sup>th</sup> stage) undergoing dialysis (study group). Treatment lasted from 1 up to 228 months. 11 (13.8%) patients with 101-228 months duration of dialysis formed the group of patients with beta2-microglobulin amyloidosis. Diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy. Comparative groups were formed by 55 patients and 25 patients undergoing dialysis less than 100 months and more than 100 months respectively. Significant correlation was noticed between dialysis duration and thickness of supraspinatus tendon (rs - 0.478, P < 0.001), thickness of subscapularis tendon (r <sub>s</sub> - 0.518, P < 0.001), thickness of biceps long head tendon (r <sub>s</sub> - 0.329, P < 0.001), and thickness of hip joint cervical-capsular cavity (r <sub>s</sub> - 0.557, P < 0.001) as well. Significant difference (P < 0.001) of supraspinatus and subscapularis tendons and hip joint cervical-capsular cavity thickness was revealed in patients with amyloid arthropathy comparing to the patients of the study group.