title: Laboratory and sonographic findings in dialyzed patients with bilateral chronic knee pain versus dialyzed asymptomatic patients.
abstract: The aim of this study is to evaluate connection of plasma level of beta2-microglobulin, C-reactive protein and uric acid as well as sonographic parameters like thickness of synovial membrane, thickness of femoral condylar cartilage and presence of joint effusion and Baker's cysts with bilateral knee pain in dialyzed patients, comparing them with parameters in asymptomatic dialyzed patients. Plasma levels of beta2-microglobulin and C-reactive protein were significantly higher in symptomatic patients while uric acid level showed no difference among the groups. In symptomatic patients synovial membrane was thicker and in those patients there were more knee effusions and Baker's cysts. Thickness of femoral condylar cartilage showed no difference between groups. That suggests that inflammatory mechanisms developing from beta2-microglobulin accumulation could be important factor in bilateral knee pain in dialyzed patients even in shorter duration dialysis.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital "Split", School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia. igorbarisic@net.hr
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barisić
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ljutić
authors.forename: Tonko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vlak
authors.forename: Josip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bekavac
authors.forename: Stipan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janković
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010146:Pain / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011151:Popliteal Cyst / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D014527:Uric Acid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein