Original scientific paper
Clinical Course of Uremic Neuropathy in Long-Term Hemodialysis
Dragan Jurčić
Ante Bilić
Dragan Schwarz
Dubravka Oršanić
Maruška Gabrić
Ljubica Špoljarić
Mate Mihanović
Abstract
One hundred and thirty-one patients on long-term hemodialysis were examined for the presence of clinical symptoms
and signs, and for the effects of dialytic age, age and sex on uremic neuropathy. According to dialysis age, the patients
were divided into three subgroups: low dialysis age, <5 years of dialysis (n=58); intermediate dialysis age, 5-10 years of
hemodialysis (n=39); and high dialysis age, >10 years of dialysis (n=34). Two patient subgroups were differentiated according
to mean age of 53.2 years: younger (n=57) and older (n=74). Clinical grading of uremic neuropathy was based
on Nielsen’s criteria. The most common symptoms were restless legs syndrome (47%) and cramps (51%). Sensory symptoms
were less common in patients on long-term hemodialysis, most common of them being paresthesia (29%) and burning
feet syndrome (28%). Abnormal Achilles reflex (53%) and impaired vibration sense (59%) were the most common clinical
signs. Clinically manifested uremic neuropathy was present in more than 80% of all study patients, i.e. mild in 41%,
and moderate to severe forms of uremic neuropathy according to Nielsen’s criteria in 39%. There was no evident effect of
dialytic age and sex on the clinical course of uremic neuropathy, however, there was a clear impact of age. It is concluded
that long-term hemodialysis does not influence the clinical course of uremic neuropathy unlike evident deterioration of
electroneurophysiologic findings.
Keywords
uremic neuropathy; hemodialysis; uremia
Hrčak ID:
27061
URI
Publication date:
2.9.2008.
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