The Peripheral Nerve Function in Chronic Renal Failure

A material consisting of 109 patients with chronic renal failure has been examined for the presence of clinical symptoms and signs indicating a peripheral neuropathy. Symptoms were reported by 84 patients (77%). Cramps and the restless legs syndrome were reported most frequently. However, several clinical observations raised doubt whether these symptoms do at all reflect a peripheral neuropathy. Paresthesia (31%) and dysesthesia (18%) were the most common sensory symptoms, whereas actual pain and the burning feet syndrome were rare complaints. Clinical signs of a neuropathy were recorded in 56 patients (51%). This came close to the over‐all incidence in previously reported materials. Impaired vibration sense and reflex disturbances were the earliest and the most frequent findings. As a rule other signs occurred late in the course of chronic renal failure, and they were late manifestations of neuropathy as well.