ABSTRACT
To study the prevalence and the patterns of peripheral neuropathy in patients with chronic renal failure. The study was conducted on 40 patients with chronic renal failure [CRF] and 20 healthy subjects of matched age and sex [control group]. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group]: those with chronic renal failure treated conservatively [n=20] and Group II. those with end stage renal disease treated by hemodialysis [n=20]. Patients were selected randomly. The presence of polyneuropathy and its severity was assessed in all participants hi clinical, neurological examination and the following electro-physiological methods: 1] motor nerve conduction of the median, ulnar, tibial and peroneal nerves, 2] sensory nerve conduction studies of the sural, ulnar and radial nerves 3] F-wave study of the median, ulnar, tibial and peroneal nerves; and 4] Soleus H-reflex. The prevalence of polyneuropathy in group 1 and group 2 were 60% and 65%, respectively [with no significant difference between them]. Polyneuropathy was evident clinically in 37.5% of CRF patients and subclinical neuropathy [diagnosed only on electrophysiological basis] was found in 25% of GRE patients. Electrophysiological abnormalities suggested that the pathology was mainly axonopathy as there was a significant reduction of the CMAP amplitudes. The pattern of uremic neuropathy was axonal, affecting sensory fibers more than motor ones. It seemed that the most sensitive tests in detecting uremic neuropathy would be the H reflex, sural sensory nerve conduction, the peroneal and tibial F wave studies and the median, peroneal and tibial motor conduction studies