Prevalence of acquired cystic disease in black Africans on hemodialysis in West Africa.

Acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) is a late manifestation of end-stage renal disease. To determine the prevalence of ACKD in black African patients on chronic hemodialysis in West Africa, we examined by ultrasonography the native kidneys of 83 patients from February to August 2002. ACKD was present in 26 patients, with estimated prevalence of 31% that was higher in males. There were 20 (77%) ACKD patients with a duration on dialysis of more than five years. The associated clinical manifestations were lumbar pain (58%), hematuria (23%) and urinary tract infection (23%). No case of renal cancer was detected during this study. We conclude that the prevalence of ACKD and its complications in black African patients on chronic hemodialysis in West Africa is high. We recommend that renal ultrasonography should be performed routinely in patients on hemodialysis for more than 5 years.