Functional Evaluation of Autonomic Nervous System in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the autonomic nervous system function in chronic renal failure patients compared to normal control and to assess the effect of dialysis method and underlying diseases such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension, on autonomic nervous system function in chronic renal failure patients. METHOD: We checked palm and sole skin temperature with digital thermometer, sympathetic skin responses and heart rate variability in chronic renal failure patients (77 persons) and normal control group (77 persons). RESULTS: The amplitude of sympathetic skin response (SSR) and heart rate variability (RRIV) of patients group showed statistically significant difference compared to control group (p0.05). CRF without diabetes mellitus and hypertension showed significant difference on amplitude of SSR and RRIV (p0.05) between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis groups. CONCLUSION: SSR test and RRIV could be valuable measure to evaluate autonomic nervous system functions in the patients with chronic renal failure.