Beneficial effect of renal transplantation on cognitive brain function.
Cognitive brain dysfunction is a common complication of end-stage renal disease. To investigate the cerebral effect of renal transplantation, we studied P300 event-related potentials--an objective marker of cognitive brain function--trailmaking test and Mini-mental state in 15 chronic hemodialysis patients and 45 matched healthy subjects. Before transplantation, patients showed prolonged P300 latency (364 vs. 337 ms, P < 0.01), smaller amplitude (15.2 vs. 19.1 microV) and scored lower (P < 0.05) in trailmaking test and Mini-mental state as compared to healthy subjects. Following renal transplantation (14 months), P300 latency decreased (337 ms, P < 0.01 vs. before) and amplitude increased (17.4 microV, P < 0.05 vs. before), indicating improved cognitive brain function. The trailmaking test and Mini-mental state tended to improve. Following transplantation, P300 findings, trailmaking test and Mini-mental state were not different from healthy subjects. Additional studies following erythropoietin treatment in 6 of the 15 hemodialysis patients revealed decreased (improved) P300 latency (351 vs. 379 ms before, P < 0.05) with further decrease following transplantation (341 ms, P = 0.06). Our findings indicate that cognitive brain dysfunction in hemodialysis patients may be fully reversed by successful renal transplantation.
Kramer
L
L
Department of Medicine IV, University of Vienna, Austria.
Madl
C
C
Stockenhuber
F
F
Yeganehfar
W
W
Eisenhuber
E
E
Derfler
K
K
Lenz
K
K
Schneider
B
B
Grimm
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004569:Electroencephalography; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006454:Hemoglobins; D003404:Creatinine