Vibrometry and uremic peripheral neuropathy

The vibratory sensation threshold (VST) was measured with a vibrometer to assess the progression of neuropathy in patients with end-stage renal disease. Normal patients and patients receiving chronic hemodialysis were studied. We found that the longer the patients were dialyzed, the lower their VST (P less than 0.01). Regression equations were established to predict threshold values versus age of both groups, and VST versus months on dialysis in the patient population. Vibrometry was an important addition to the assessment of peripheral neuropathy in our dialysis patients. It offers low cost, little patient preparation, and requires little professional time for examination and interpretation.