Evoked potentials in uremia: basal and follow-up data.

Various EPs have been employed to disclose even early-stage central and peripheral nervous system damage in uremia. This approach also gives the possibility to follow up alterations of many sensory functions during the sequential stages of uremia. Fifty-three subjects (35 male and 18 female, mean age 42.20 +/- 5.50 yrs, conventionally low nitrogen diet treated, on dialysis or transplanted) were followed-up by recording the EPs every year for seven years. The P100 wave latency and amplitude of VEPs were recorded and found abnormal in about 70% of the examined visual systems. The auditory EPs were abnormal in 53% of the cases for the peak latencies, interpeak times and peak ratios. The somatosensory EPs showed in 75% of the cases an altered latency and morphology of the waves registered in the lumbar, cervical and cranial loci. There is evidence suggesting that evoked cerebral biorhythms may provide sensitive and objective indexes of cerebral function in uremia. The persistence of abnormalities disclosed by EPs follow-up confirm the reliability of this technique in evaluating neuro-pathologic uremic situations and in supplying optimal uremia therapies.