A case of diffuse idiopathic hyperostosis of bone (DISH) in a patient on hemodialysis

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a noninflammatory progressive disease resulting in ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament of the spine and tendons. Herein, we describe a case of DISH in a patient on long-term hemodialysis. The patient was a 79-year-old man undergoing hemodialysis for chronic kidney disease due to diabetic nephropathy. He presented to the emergency department complaining of back pain after a slip and fall. Radiographs revealed bamboo spine-like findings, extending from the cervical to the lumbar spine. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a compression fracture of thoracic vertebra 12, with abnormal ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament. Inter-vertebral vertical osseous bridges were also observed at the cervical 7 and lumbar 2 vertebrae. There was no obvious spinal cord compression. Leukocytosis and C-reactive protein levels were not elevated and the human leukocyte type antigen HLA-B27 test was negative. Based on this finding, a diagnosis of DISH was made. In the absence of neurological findings, the patient was treated conservatively. Our findings show an overlap between the clinical features of DISH and those of hemodialysis patients, including older age, male sex, and diabetes.