Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2009;11(2):55-60.
Published online December 31, 2009.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate and analyze prevalence and characteristics of peripheral neuropathy in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) according to the cause of ESRD.
Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted in 112 patients who had undergone hemodialysis (n= 64) or peritoneal dialysis (n= 48). The medical records were reviewed. Standard motor and sensory nerve conduction studies, F waves, and H reflexes were performed. Peripheral neuropathy (PN) was diagnosed and classified into 4 grades.
Results: PN was diagnosed in 58 patients (51.8%): 34 in hemodialysis (HD) group and 24 in peritoneal dialysis (PD) group. Forty two out of 47 patient with diabetes mellitus developed PN whereas 16 out of 65 did in non-diabetic patients (p<0.01). The severity of PN was as follows: Grade I, 12; Grade II, 11; Grade III, 26; Grade IV, 9. The duration of ESRD according to the severity of PN was not significant (p=0.056) in all the patients, but showed moderate correlation in non-diabetic patients (r=0.287, p<0.05).
Conclusion: The diabetic patients may develop severe degree of PN compared to those with other etiology of ESRD because the peripheral nerve could be affected from both diabetes mellitus and uremia.

Key Words: Peripheral neuropathy, End stage renal disease, Hemodialysis, Peritoneal dialysis, Diabetes mellitus