Neuropsychological Studies of CAPD: Preliminary Findings

Abstract

A neuropsychological study of CAPD was initiated to assess potential neurotoxic complications. Results are presented for the first year of treatment. A significant improvement in psychometric performance over this time indicated that there was a substantive decline in the relative degree of neurotoxic impairment among the patients as a group. Individually, 70% of patients found to be cognitively impaired before CAPD reach normal psychometric levels by the end of the first year. A reduction in dialysis from eight to six liters/day in a limited number of highly stable patients did not increase their levels of neurotoxic impairment. Correlations between psychometric scores and biochemical indices could not be established either before or after CAPD.