PHRENIC NEUROPATHY IN CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE

Background - Peripheral neuropathy and alterations in diaphragmatic mu scle function are frequently caused by uraemia. Phrenic nerve function in patients with end stage renal failure, however, has not been exami ned to date. Methods - An electrophysiological study of the phrenic ne rve was performed to determine its possible involvement in 32 nondiabe tic patients with end stage renal disease undergoing chronic haemodial ysis. Results - Seventeen patients had electrophysiological signs of p eripheral neuropathy in at least one of the investigated nerves and 14 of the 17 showed pathological phrenic nerve latencies. Delayed phreni c nerve latencies correlated clearly with pathological peroneal nerve conduction velocities. Conclusions - Phrenic neuropathy is a frequent complication of uraemia.