Pattern visual evoked potentials and brainstem auditory evoked responses in uremic patients.

With the improvement of dialysis therapy and subsequent increase in the average lifespan of uremic patients more interest has been directed towards neurological complications induced by chronic renal failure. Twelve uremic patients were selected on the basis of negative neurological and psychiatric examinations. Electroencephalogram, pattern visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) were recorded in all patients. Pathological latency increases of VEPs in six patients and of BAERs in three patients had been observed. These findings have been related by the authors to the action of toxic substances or to the presence of minimal demyelinating lesions of CNS. Since these pathological findings were observed in patients who were normal at the clinical examination, it has been suggested that the evoked potentials recording might be a sensitive index of initial early lesions of the CNS in uremic patients (Acta neurol. belg., 1982, 82, 72-79).