title: Clinical course of uremic neuropathy in long-term hemodialysis.
abstract: One hundred and thirty-one patients on long-term hemodialysis were examined for the presence of clinical symptoms and signs, and for the effects of dialytic age, age and sex on uremic neuropathy. According to dialysis age, the patients were divided into three subgroups: low dialysis age, < 5 years of dialysis (n = 58); intermediate dialysis age, 5-10 years of hemodialysis (n = 39); and high dialysis age, > 10 years of dialysis (n = 34). Two patient subgroups were differentiated according to mean age of 53.2 years: younger (n = 57) and older (n = 74). Clinical grading of uremic neuropathy was based on Nielsen's criteria. The most common symptoms were restless legs syndrome (47%) and cramps (51%). Sensory symptoms were less common in patients on long-term hemodialysis, most common of them being paresthesia (29%) and burning feet syndrome (28%). Abnormal Achilles reflex (53%) and impaired vibration sense (59%) were the most common clinical signs. Clinically manifested uremic neuropathy was present in more than 80% of all study patients, i.e. mild in 41%, and moderate to severe forms of uremic neuropathy according to Nielsen's criteria in 39%. There was no evident effect of dialytic age and sex on the clinical course of uremic neuropathy, however, there was a clear impact of age. It is concluded that long-term hemodialysis does not influence the clinical course of uremic neuropathy unlike evident deterioration of electroneurophysiologic findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatogastroenterology, General Hospital "Sveti Duh", Zagreb, Croatia. draganjurcic@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jurcić
authors.forename: Ante
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bilić
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Dubravka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orsanić
authors.forename: Maruska
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gabrić
authors.forename: Ljubica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spoljarić
authors.forename: Mate
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihanović
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014511:Uremia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*