[Cognitive disorders in patients with chronic renal insufficiency]

The paper presents examination results of patients with chronic renal failure. The aim of the study was to estimate the cognitive disorder profile in patients with renal failure before and after the introduction of hemodialysis. The sample consisted of 10 patients with terminal renal failure, 20 patients admitted to chronic hemodialysis programme and 20 healthy volunteers. General intellectual performance, attention, perception, memory and speech were evaluated by standard neuropsychological tests. Results have shown that patients with terminal renal failure have pronounced impairment of all mentioned functions. Some of those functions have been significantly improved after introduction of hemodialysis (visual-spatial abilities, verbal learning, temporal and spatial orientation and speech understanding). Partial recovery was reflected in domain of general intellectual performance, writing and mental manipulation, whereas pronunciation and attention maintenance disorders remained.