[Frequency of polyneuropathy signs in CAPD patients].

INTRODUCTION

It is well known that polyneuropathy has been an important cause of disability in patients maintained on hemodialysis as well as on peritoneal dialysis. The present study was aimed to analyze frequency and causes of polyneuropathy in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty three CAPD patients (37 men), aged between 30 and 85 who were on dialysis from 1 to 290 months, were analyzed. Biochemical parameters and dialysis adequacy (KT/V) were determined. Motor conduction velocity (MCV) of peroneal and tibial nerve, and sensitive conduction velocity (SCV) on sural nerve were measured.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Biochemical parameters and dialysis adequacy were satisfactory in patients on CAPD. Polyneuropathy symptoms like paresthesias, pain, cramps and disability were found in more than 50% of patients. Over 80% of analyzed patients had pathological neurophysiological parameters: latency of F wave of n. peroneus and all analyzed parameters of n. tibialis, as the well as SCV on the sural nerve. A significant correlation was found between peroneal MCV and age, glycemia and serum creatinine; peroneal terminal latency (TL) and age; peroneal F wave and glycemia and serum urea; tibial MCV and glycemia; tibial F wave and glycemia, serum urea and KT/V.

CONCLUSION

The most frequent signs of uremic polyneuropathy are reduced SCV on sural nerve and prolonged latency of F wave on peroneal and tibial nerves. Neurophysiological parameters on the lower extremities in patients on CAPD are in correlation with dialysis adequacy, glycemia and age.