Silent Cerebral Infarction in Hemodialysis Patients

Vol. 23, No. 2, 2003

Free Abstract Article (Fulltext) Article (PDF 66 KB)

Original Article: Patient-Oriented, Translational Research

Silent Cerebral Infarction in Hemodialysis Patients
Tatsuya Nakatani, Toshihide Naganuma, Junji Uchida, Chikayoshi Masuda, Seiji Wada, Takeshi Sugimura, Kazunobu Sugimura

Department of Urology, Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Am J Nephrol 2003;23:86-90 (DOI: 10.1159/000068034)

Key Words

Magnetic resonance imaging
Silent cerebral infarction
Cerebrovascular disease
Hemodialysis

Abstract

Background: Cerebrovascular diseases are very common in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Silent cerebral infarction (SCI) has not been investigated in HD patients although it may be a significant risk factor for cerebrovascular diseases. Hypothesis: Chronic renal failure may be an independent risk factor for SCI and cerebrovascular diseases. Methods: Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 123 HD patients without symptomatic cerebrovascular disease and on 52 control subjects. We investigated the prevalence of SCI and performed cross-sectional study using multiple logistic analysis to assess the relationship between SCI and the risk factors. Results: The prevalence of SCI was significantly higher in HD patients than in the healthy control group (60 patients (48.8%) vs. 5 patients (9.6%), χ² = 22.4, p < 0.0001). Multiple logistic regression analysis with all subjects showed that independent risk factors of SCI were chronic renal failure, hypertension, smoking and age (R² = 0.468, p < 0.0001). In only the HD patient group, age and smoking were shown to be independent risk factors of SCI (R² = 0.378, p < 0.0001) while HD duration and hypertension were not. Conclusions: The findings of the present study indicate that chronic renal failure maintained by hemodialysis increases the prevalence of SCI and that age and smoking habits are also significantly associated with SCI in HD patients.

Author Contacts

Toshihide Naganuma, MD
Departments of Urology, Osaka City University Medical School
1-4-3 Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku
Osaka, 545-8585 (Japan)
Tel. +81 6 6645 3857, Fax +81 6 6647 4426, E-Mail m9643361@msic.med.osaka-cu.ac.jp

Article Information

Received: Received: June 25, 2002
Accepted: August 20, 2002
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 14

This journal is part of the third subject package of the Karger

Journal Archive Collection

Information on packages (PDF)
Free sample issues

For non-native English speakers and international authors who would like assistance with their writing before submission, we suggest American Journal Experts for their scientific editing service.