透析可使终末期肾脏病(ESRD)患者存活数十年。然而,透析5年以上的患者常出现腕管综合征、类风湿痛、侵蚀性关节病等并发症。这些均由于类淀粉样物质的β_2微球蛋白(β_2M)沉积引起。β_2M可在骨、肾、肝、肠和血管等器官沉积。由于皮肤较之滑膜和内脏器官更易获得,因此在β_2M沉积的患者能否以皮肤活检代替滑膜活 Dialysis can leave patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) alive for decades. However, patients who have been dialysed for more than five years often experience complications such as carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and aggressive arthrosis. These are all caused by the deposition of β_2 microglobulin (β_2M) of amyloid-like substances. β_2M deposits on organs such as bone, kidney, liver, intestine and blood vessels. Because skin is more accessible than synovial and visceral organs, can patients with β_2M deposits be replaced by skin biopsies