Autonomic dysfunction in non-diabetic terminal uraemia

R-R variations in the ECG were studied as a sign of autonomic dysfunction in 44 non-diabetic patients with terminal uraemia treated with intermittent haemodialysis. A severe impairment of this parasympathetic vagal reflex was found though there were only mild signs of diffuse polyneuropathy. No acute effect was associated with haemodialysis. There was no correlation between either the R-R variations and the polyneuropathy-index or the total dialysis time. Patients with chronic glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis and polycystic kidney disease were equally affected.