These studies were designed to track the cutaneous deposition of beta2-micro-globulin (β2M) in patients on chronic hemodialysis, patients with chronic renal insufficiency and patients with successful renal transplants. Immunoperoxidase staining of skin biopsies from dialysis patients demonstrated significantly increased amounts of β2M compared to controls (p < 0.01). There was a strong positive correlation between the skin β2M content and the years of dialysis treatment. Renal transplant recipients had decreased skin content of β2M compared to hemodialysis patients. There was no difference in the skin β2M content in patients with chronic renal insufficiency not on hemodialysis and controls. No dialysis patient had amyloid in the skin by Congo red stain. We conclude that β2M accumulates in the skin of patients on chronic hemodialysis. This β2M is not in the form of amyloid. Successful renal transplantation allows for the removal of β2M from the skin indicating that β2M not in the form of amyloid can be mobilized from tiss