Ungual tufts in the follow-up of patients on maintenance hemodialysis

Abstract

A recent publication showed the earliest signs of renal osteodystrophy in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) to occur in the tufts [1]. We present three patients on MHD, in two of whom the earliest unequivocal radiographic improvement was seen in the tufts. The third patient had been on MHD and, following subtotal parathyroidectomy, showed significant osseous improvement in the hands with relatively equal improvement in the tufts and middle phalanges. It appears that, with the use of routine primary or secondary magnification, the tufts are radiographically a highly sensitive site for both the early occurrence and improvement of osteodystrophy in patients on MHD. We are not aware of any previous publication pointing out exclusive improvement in the tufts in patients on MHD with virtually no change in the mid-phalanges. Two of these three cases illustrate that renal osteodystrophy is reversible by maintenance hemodialysis alone.