Peripheral nerve morphology and intraneural blood flow in chronic kidney disease with and without diabetes

Sonographic alterations of peripheral nerves in pre-dialytic kidney disease are yet to be determined. We aimed to assess peripheral nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) and intraneural blood flow in patients with pre-dialytic chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

Subjects with CKD (n = 20) or DKD (n = 20) underwent ultrasound to assess CSA of the median and tibial nerves as well as intraneural blood flow of the median nerve. Blood flow was quantified using maximum perfusion intensity. Neuropathy was assessed using the Total Neuropathy Score. A 6-m timed walk test was also performed. Healthy controls (n = 28) were recruited for comparison.

The DKD group had more severe neuropathy (p = .024), larger tibial nerve CSA (p = .002) and greater median nerve blood flow than the CKD group (p = .023). Blood flow correlated with serum potassium in disease groups (r = 0.652, p = .022). Disease groups had larger tibial nerve CSA than controls (p < .05). No blood flow was detected in controls. Tibial nerve enlargement was associated with slower maximal walking speeds in disease groups (r = -0.389, p = .021).

Subjects with DKD demonstrated enlarged tibial nerve CSA and increased median nerve blood flow compared to those with CKD. Elevations in serum potassium were associated with increased blood flow. Sonographic alterations were detectable in pre-dialytic kidney disease compared to controls, highlighting the utility of ultrasound in the assessment of nerve pathology in these patient groups.