Abstract
Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) is considered to be an indicator of adequate dialysis. Patients receiving CAPD may be less susceptible to developing uremic neuropathy than those undergoing hemodialysis (HD), as the former removes middle molecular weight substances more efficiently than the latter. The present study was conducted to assess serial NCV changes in 22 non-diabetic patients receiving CAPD for a period of 72 months. NCV was also compared in CAPD and HD patients over the 48-72 months following the initiation of dialysis therapy. Linear regression analysis showed a slight serial decrease in NCV in CAPD patients, which was statistically significant in both the motor and sensory components of the median nerve. No significant changes were observed in any other nerves. The observed NCV chorges appeored to be less severe in CAPD than in HD patients, because HD patients showed significant decreases in SCV as compared to CAPD patients. There was no correlation between NCV and plasma concentrations of low molecular weight substances.
In conclusion, CAPD patients show a slight but significant decrease in NCV over the course of long term observation.
