[Autonomic circulatory regulation in uremia (author's transl)]

Uremic autonomic neuropathy leads to impaired function of the baroreflex. The main defect, according to literature, is located in the afferent limb of the reflex arc and in the efferent cardiac vagus nerve, whereas the sympathetic part of the efferent arc is still intact. Own results, obtained in hemodialysis patients during orthostasis and volume removal induced sympathetic stimulation, showed qualitatively and quantitatively adequate sympathetic response and also an adequate end organ receptor response. Autonomic nervous neuropathy predisposes to volume removal related symptomatic hypotension during hemodialysis treatment. In addition hemodialysis treatment per se induces a so far unexplained interference with sympathetic response to volume removal. The autonomic neuropathy also predisposes to development of hypertension in response to volume load.