EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Recent advancements in dialysis therapy have significantly improved the lives of individuals with declining renal function. This is particularly important in countries like Japan, where kidney transplantation is not widely accepted or frequently performed.

By the end of 1999, 197,231 individuals were receiving dialysis in Japan, with over 21,150 having been on dialysis for a year or more. The number of long-term dialysis patients has steadily increased. The three leading causes of death among these patients are cerebrovascular disease, heart failure, and infection.

One of the most common complications affecting the quality of life for long-term dialysis patients is dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA). DRA affects 25.6% of all Japanese dialysis patients, with the incidence rising with longer treatment durations. It impacts 35.1% of those on dialysis for 10 years, 56.8% for those treated for more than 15 years, and 74.6% for those who have been on dialysis for over 20 years.

 Keywords: Amyloidosis; Hip; Beta 2-Microglobulin; MRI

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