Association Between Environmental Particulate Matter and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

摘要

Background/Aims: The deposition of β2-microglobulin induced by reactive inflammation causing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the complications of dialysis-related amyloidosis in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Air pollution levels, especially particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5)_, have significantly been associated with the elevation of systemic inflammatory markers. There is no previous research on possible associations between CTS and PM_2.5. Methods: This study enrolled 866 MHD patients treated at the outpatient HD centers. Senior neurologists diagnosed the presence of CTS. Air pollution levels were recorded by a network of 27 monitoring stations near or in the patients’ living areas throughout Taiwan. The 12- and 24-month average concentrations of PM with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 and PM_2.5, respectively), sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone were included. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that HD duration, the normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR), hypoalbuminemia (albumin 2.5 were positively associated with CTS; HD duration, nPCR, hypoalbuminemia (albumin 2.5 were positively associated with CTS; HD duration, hypoalbuminemia (albumin 2.5 excess days were positively associated with CTS; and HD duration, nPCR, hypoalbuminemia (albumin 2.5 excess days were positively associated with CTS. Conclusion: PM_2.5 levels and PM_2.5 excessing days were positively correlated with CTS.