Secondary amyloidosis is a complication typical for patients on long-term hemodialysis. The first clinical signs are usually shoulder joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We have questioned 74 patients who were on regular hemodialysis (HD) treatment and divided them into 3 groups according to the length of HD. Group 1--on HD for 1-4 years: There were 35 patients in this group, 15 of them (i.e., 43%) had shoulder joint pain and/or CTS. None of these patients had symptoms that would require surgical treatment. Group II--on HD for 5-9 years: There were 22 patients in this group, 15 of them (i.e., 68%) had shoulder joint pain and/or CTS. Three patients from this group had severe night pain and were therefore indicated for surgical treatment for CTS, each of them on 1 hand only. In 2 cases amyloid was present in the histological examination. Group III--on HD for over 10 years: There were 17 patients in this group, 13 of them (i.e., 76%) had shoulder joint pain and/or CTS. Five patients from this group were operated on both hands for severe night pain due to carpal tunnel syndrome. Only 1 patient had positive amyloid on both hands in the histological examination. All the 8 patients (i.e., 13 hands) were examined by EMG before the operation, showing reduction of motor conduction on n. medianus by 30.7 +/- 15.1%. After the operation the EMG control was done in 4 patients (7 hands), showing no improvement in 2 cases and in 5 cases the conduction on the n. medianus was found to be in the normal range.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)