The Islets of Langerhans in Uremic Patients Receiving Chronic Hemodialysis

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Abstract
Ten autopsied cases of uremia (none with diabetes mellitus) who had been treated with hemodialysis were studied histopathologically. Hyaline replacement of islets of Langerhans was found in 6 out of 10 cases, while such a change was observed in only 1 of 15 control non hemodialyzed controls. These 6 cases had received hemodialysis therapy for a duration of more than 2 years and 10 months. The hyaline material in the islets of Langerhans was confirmed as the presence of amyloid by electron microscopy. Clinically, urinary glucose was present in 1 out of 3 patients and the blood glucose level was moderately elevated in 2 other cases. Therefore, it should be emphasized that care should be taken about glucose tolerance in uremic patients receiving chronic hemodialysis.