Carpal tunnel syndrome in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis

Five of 62 maintenance hemodialysis patients were found to have carpal tunnel syndrome, and another five had prolonged distal motor latencies. Contrary to previous reports, there was no relation between carpal tunnel syndrome and the site of vascular access. Synovial biopsy specimens from flexor tendons demonstrated edema without inflammation, suggesting that extracellular fluid volume excess in the presence of flexion and immobility during dialysis may be pathogenetically important. (JAMA242:2868-2869, 1979)