[Rheumatological complications of dialysis].

The articular complications observed in dialysed chronic renal failure failures, whose incidence increases with the duration of dialysis, are closely correlated with the development of beta 2-microglobulin amyloidosis, responsible for nerve tunnel syndromes, arthralgia and chronic joint swelling with frequently multiple subchondral cysts on x-rays. Microcrystalline pathology is dominated by apatite deposits, which may also be involved in the pathogenesis of destructive arthropathy. Articular complications with destruction of the large joints or involvement of the first carpometacarpal joint interfere with the functional prognosis. Sepsis must be excluded in cases of destructive cervical spondyloarthropathies. The pathogenesis of destructive arthropathies is probably multifactorial, consisting of apatite and amyloid deposits, secondary hyperparathyroidism and aluminium poisoning.