Autonomic nervous dysfunction in patients on long-term hemodialysis.
The level of plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity in subjects at rest was found to be significantly lower in 12 patients on long-term hemodialysis than in a healthy 8-member control group: 28.3 +/- 7.2 and 13.6 +/- 7.6 IU/1, respectively (p less than 0.01). Following immersion of one hand of each subject into cold water (4 degrees C) for 1 min, a significant rise was observed in both groups, 6.1 +/- 4.8 IU/1 for the control and 1.6 +/- 1.4 IU/1 for the patient group (p less than 0.01). Upon tilting up the head of all subjects, activity in both groups increased significantly, but a markedly smaller rise was found in the patient group: 5.8 +/- 4.8 and 1.1 +/- 1.6 IU/1 for the two groups, respectively (p less than 0.01). The data suggest an autonomic nervous dysfunction in patients on long-term hemodialysis.
D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011187:Posture; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase