Abstract
We conducted a survey of chronic renal failure patients on maintenance hemodialysis in Osaka Prefecture with regards to the occurrence of acquired cystic disease of the kidney (ACDK) and the possible complication of renal cell carcinoma from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 1990. In Osaka Prefecture, maintenance hemodialysis is done at 133 different clinics on a total of 7, 379 patients. Of these 133 clinics, 118 (88.7%) responded to our ACDK survey. Fifty-nine (50%) of the 118 clinics conducted examinations verifying the presence of ACDK once or twice a year (average: 1.6 times). For this examination, ultrasonography was used at these 59 units, and computed tomography was also used at 58 units.
We studied the occurrence of ACDK and the number of nephrectomies performed on all 3, 271 patients of the 59 clinics. Of these 3, 271 patients, 758 (23.2%) were diagnosed as having ACDK. The ratio of male ACDK patients to female ACDK patients was about 2:1 (501:257). In those patients who had been on hemodialysis for 12 years or less, the longer the duration, the higher the incidence, with the highest rate (44%) found in those who had been on hemodialysis for 10 to 12 years. The rate was 34-36% in patients who had been on hemodialysis for over 12 years. Renal cell carcinoma was a complication in 15 patients (male: 15, female: 0). These patients underwent nephrectomy. The renal cell carcinoma rate tended to be higher in patients who had been on hemodialysis for a long period of time.
