Neurological Manifestations of Renal Disease

In the United Syates, chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 5% to 10% of the general population. It is estimated that about 20 million Americans have some degree of CKD. Central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities are common in patients with CKD, especially in those individuals with end stage renal disease (ESRD) who require renal replacement therapy, such as dialysis or transplant. Neurological symptoms in patients with CKD may range from mild altered sensorium and cognitive dysfunction to tremors and coma. By the time patients require renal replacement therapy, some patients may have uremia, a clinical syndrome with protean manifestations.