title: Effect of hemodialysis on cognitive function in ESRD patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uremia is associated with impairment of different cognitive functions. However the pathogenesis of this cognitive dysfunction is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, long-latency event related potentials (ERPs) were used to assess changes in cortical function due to hemodialysis treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, we measured event related potentials in 15 end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients maintained on hemodialysis, two hours before and two hours after they underwent hemodialysis and compared their data with a strictly age and sex matched healthy control group. The P3 was elicited by using standard auditory "odd-ball" paradigm and the data obtained was statistically analyzed (Wilcoxon signed ranks, Mann Whitney).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before hemodialysis, the patients' P3 latency (347.73 +/- 39.47 ms) was significantly increased as compared with that of healthy control group (308.4 +/- 13.73 ms) (p = 0.001). After hemodialysis, P3 latency of the patients showed a significant decrease (347.73 +/- 39.47 ms to 325.20 +/- 37.15 ms, p = 0.001). P3 latency after dialysis was not significantly different from controls. No significant correlation was noted between various biochemical parameters (hemoglobin, blood urea, creatinine, uric acid and calcium) and P3 latency or amplitude.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Removal of uremic toxins by hemodialysis leads to an improvement in cognitive processing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. madan@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Madan
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Om P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: Om P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Tandon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time; D006435:Renal Dialysis