Abstract
We evaluated uremic symptoms and clinical parameters in end-stage renal disease patients started on dialysis therapy at the Yamanashi Medical University Hospital over 5 years from 1992 to 1996. The primary diseases of these patients were diabetic nephropathy (DN) (n=44), chronic glomerulonephritis (n=27), polycystic kidney (n=2) and other chronic renal diseases (n=6). The patients with DN were compared to these with nondiabetic end-stage renal disease (NDESRD). The criteria for instituting dialysis therapy, recommended by an ad hoc committee sponsered by Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare, were used for this study. Serum levels of urea nitrogen were significantly lower in patients with DN than NDESRD. The symptoms of fluid overload and neuropathy were more frequently observed in DN. The proportion of patients whose serum levels of creatinine were under 8mg/dl was higher in DN. All the diabetic patients had met the recommended criteria. On the basis of these results, clinicians should decide to start dialysis therapy for the patients with DN mainly by evaluating clinical findings.
