Patients on hemodialysis suffer from several serious complex neurological complications resulting in significant disability. Early detection of these complications during the asymptomatic phase may consent to early intervention to prevent or minimize the disability. To assess and predict neurological soft signs (NSS) in non-diabetic end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis (HD) who do not suffer any apparent neurological symptoms. An analytical, cross-sectional study was done in Hemodialysis units in the Suez Canal University Hospitals. 96 ESRD adult patients on hemodialysis are exposed to: Medical history was taken via personal interview, laboratory tests, and clinical assessment of NSS using Heidelberg scale, and brain CT was done for 50 high-risk patients (hypertensive or those on dialysis for more than 5 years) to detect the presence of any probable neuro-radiological brain abnormalities. 79.2% of our studied ESRD patients on HD had positive NSS with a mean value of total score 8.5 ± 5.9. Strong positive correlations were present between NSS and Hb levels, duration of hemodialysis, and hypertension. CT had revealed no abnormality. NSS represent a reliable, affordable tool for regular bedside assessment of ESRD patients with HD who do not suffer any neurological symptoms for early detection of asymptomatic neurological lesions, especially since the CT brain scan did not show such changes early. The duration of hemodialysis, Hb level, and hypertension were independent predictors for the occurrence of silent neurological lesions in ESRD patients.
Keywords: ESRD; Hemodialysis; Neurological soft signs.