A study of Nerve conduction in patients with chronic renal faillure

Background: Many patients with chronic renal failure have abnormalities in central and nervous system function. The majority of patients are asymptomatic, requiring electrophysiologic testing to confirm the abnormality. Slowingof nerve conduction velocity frequently occurs without signs and symptoms of neurophysiological changes of the peripherial nerves in patients with chronic renalfailure. Methods: A Study of motor and sensory conduction in median and ulnar nerves was done on 22 patients, five males and seventeen femal (age range 18-75 years), with chronic renal failure. Inclusion criteria for this study were known cases of chronic renal failure, from Renal Medical Unit, Mandalay General Hospital, with persistent high serum ureas level more than 10mmo/L (at least 2 weeks apart) and ultrasonographic changes. Twenty-five normal subjects of comparable ageserved as controls. Results: Ten of the patients had clinical signs and symptomsof early peripheral neuropathy, such as decreased deep tedon reflexes or minimunsensory loss in lower and upper extremities. In patients with chronic renal failure, values of median and ulnar MNCV were found tp be 48.46+-4.1m/sec and 51.17+-4.28 m/ sec respectively. Nerve conduction velocities, motor as well as sensorywere found to be significantly reduced in chronic renal failurw patients compared to those of normal subjects (p<0.001). There was significant negative correlation between serum creatinine and motor and sensorry conduction velocities of both nerves in chronic renal failure patients. But,no significant correlation was foud between blood urea and nerve condiuction velocities.