A study on autonomic neuropathy scorings in patients of chronic renal failure with and without symptoms

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Chronic renal failure may be asymptomatic or symptomatic. Autonomic neuropathy is commonly associated with chronic renal failure. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in chronic renal failure because of its association with an increase in mortality in these patients. So the study of autonomic neuropathy in patients of chronic renal failure with and without symptoms was taken up. Methods: The following clinical tests for autonomic neuropathy were done in 100 patients. Heart rate variability in response to deep breathing, heart rate variability in response to standing heart rate in response to valsalva maneuver, blood pressure response to standing and BP response to sustained hand grip exercise were recorded. Values obtained from the various tests were tabulated into a worksheet and a scoring system was applied to each test as recommended by Bellavere et al. The degree of autonomic neuropathy was assessed using CAN score. Mean CAN scores were compared in patients with and without symptoms using ANOVA test. P value 0.01 was considered to be statistically significant. Result: We found out that autonomic neuropathy autonomic neuropathy scorings is significantly higher in symptomatic chronic renal failure patients. Conclusion: So study of autonomic neuropathy can guide clinicians to prevent early complications in chronic renal failure patients.