title: Influence of blood lead concentration on the nerve conduction velocity in patients with end-stage renal disease.
abstract: Diseases of the peripheral nervous system are the most prevalent in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although increased blood levels of lead in ESRD have been reported, the role of lead remains to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to determine the connection of blood lead concentration with peripheral nerve conduction velocity. One hundred ninety-eight healthy subjects (control group) and 68 patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis (ESRD group) were enrolled. Nerve conduction was measured within two hours after hemodialysis. Orthodromic sensory nerve action potentials and compound muscle action potentials were recorded on the median, ulnar, and radial nerves. Hemoglobin-corrected blood lead was significantly higher in ESRD patients than in controls (9.1+/-2.8 microgram/dL vs. 5.9+/-2.3 microgram/dL, p<0.001). 32.4% of 68 ESRD patients with diabetes mellitus were significantly related to poorer motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity (p<0.001). However, blood lead was not a significant predictor of the nerve conduction velocity (p>0.05). Our result suggested that even though the blood lead levels were high in ESRD, they were not associated with the decline of peripheral nerve function. Diabetes mellitus is a primary independent risk of neuropathy in ESRD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Bongmyung-dong, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeng Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Joong Rock
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Hyo Wook
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Jong Oh
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sae Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001822:Body Burden; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D007854:Lead