Effects of rHuEPO on Q-EEG and event-related potentials in chronic renal failure

Quantitative electroencephalography is a powerful tool to evaluate brain function, and preliminary data have shown its usefulness in the evaluation of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). In this study, baseline values of different quantitative EEG variables, as well as data from the P300 component of the visual event-related potential, in 43 patients with chronic renal failure, were compared with those of a group of healthy subjects and with the results obtained after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of treatment of these patients with rHuEPO. Baseline total power was much lower in patients with CRF than in healthy subjects, and the distribution of power among the frequency bands was also abnormal. rHuEPO promptly normalized total power and progressively improved power distribution, although full normality was not achieved. Mean dominant frequencies in brain areas were abnormal in patients with CRF, and progressive improvement was seen along the study. The latency of P300, which was increased before treatment, decreased in all subjects, but normal values were not reached. The same applies to the hypomanic and psychopathic scores of psychological tests. Altogether, brain dysfunction of CRF seems to substantially improve by treatment of the anemia with rHuEPO.