BSER audiometry in haemodialysis patients.

The object of this paper was to study the brain stem evoked response in 20 patients suffering from chronic renal failure and having haemodialysis, and to evaluate the effects of this treatment. A further 5 successful renal transplant patients were investigated to analyse the evolution of the brain stem conduction when the metabolic abnormality is removed. In the first group, the responses were minimally abnormal in 30% of cases before the dialysis. The dialysis session showed an improvement of the brain stem conduction. This variation was temporary and, 24 hours following the dialysis treatment, the patients showed the pathological values observed before the dialysis. The results of the successful transplanted patients were consistent with the data obtained in the dialysis group. Before transplantation the nerve impulse conduction was found to be abnormal in 3 subjects. These abnormalities disappeared completely after successful transplantation. These results support the view of those who favour the use of evoked potentials to follow the status of the central nervous system in uraemic patients.