Evoked potentials before and after anemia correction with recombinant human erythropoietin in end-stage renal disease

Subclinical involvement of the nervous system in uremic adults has been detected by modern neurophysiological techniques. Chronic anemia is one of the possible factors responsible for neural dysfunction in uremia. We evaluated neurophysiological (brainstem auditory and somatosensory evoked potential) abnormalities and their possible modification following anemia correction with recombinant human erythropoietin in 14 children with end-stage renal disease maintained by hemodialysis. Only peripheral and 8th cranial nerve electrophysiological data are significantly abnormal in our patients, and they are not acutely modified by anemia correction. These data confirm the importance of electrophysiological testing of uremic children for detecting nervous system involvement at an early stage and for monitoring the efficacy of its management.