EFFECTS OF RHUEPO ON Q-EEG AND EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS IN CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE

Quantitative electroencephalography is a powerful tool to evaluate bra in function, and preliminary data have shown its usefulness in the eva luation of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). In this study, b aseline values of different quantitative EEG variables, as well as dat a from the P300 component of the visual event-related potential, in 43 patients with chronic renal failure, were compared with those of a gr oup of healthy subjects and with the results obtained after 3, 6, 9 an d 12 months of treatment of these patients with rHuEPO. Baseline total power was much lower in patients with CRF than in healthy subjects, a nd the distribution of power among the frequency bands was also abnorm al. rHuEPO promptly normalized total power and progressively improved power distribution, although full normality was not achieved. Mean dom inant frequencies in brain areas were abnormal in patients with CRF, a nd progressive improvement was seen along the study. The latency of P3 00, which was increased before treatment, decreased in all subjects, b ut normal values were not reached. The same applies to the hypomanic a nd psychopathic scores of psychological tests. Altogether, brain dysfu nction of CRF seems to substantially improve by treatment of the anemi a with rHuEPO.