Hemodialysis and risk of acute pancreatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological evidence indicates that hemodialysis may be a risk factor for acute pancreatitis. This meta-analysis was conducted with the aim of summarizing all available data and examining the present evidence. AIM: To quantify the association between hemodialysis and the incidence of acute pancreatitis. METHODS: This meta-analysis included studies on the incidence of acute pancreatitis in patients with hemodialysis. We summarized the incidence of acute pancreatitis in hemodialysis patients, and compared the incidence of acute pancreatitis in hemodialysis patients with that in non-hemodialysis individuals. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. RESULTS: A total of 5 observational studies with 1059384 individuals were identified for the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of these observational studies showed that the pooled prevalence of acute pancreatitis in hemodialysis patients was 1.1% (95% CI 0.2%-2.3%). In addition, we found that hemodialysis was associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis (relative risk = 6.96; 95% CI 3.71-13.06). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis confirmed that hemodialysis is associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis. More fundamental research should be carried out to elucidate the biological mechanisms.