Associations of Small Fiber Neuropathy with Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index and Arterial Stiffness in Hemodialysis

Background: Peripheral neuropathy is a common neurological complication in uremic patients, and quantitative sensory testing (QST) is effective for diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy. Malnutrition and arterial stiffness are prevalent in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). The associations of small fiber neuropathy with nutritional status and arterial stiffness remain uncertain in maintenance HD patients.

Methods: A total of 152 HD patients were included. Geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), an indicator of nutritional status, was calculated by serum albumin and actual and ideal body weight. Arterial stiffness was defined as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) > 1400 cm/s. Small fiber neuropathy was assessed by an abnormal QST threshold of cold and warm sensation in patients' hands or feet. Multivariate forward logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the associations among abnormal QST threshold, GNRI, and arterial stiffness.

Results: baPWV and prevalence of abnormal QST threshold were significantly higher in diabetic patients. Multivariate logistic analyses revealed that older age (OR, 1.081; 95% CI, 1.026-1.139, = 0.003) and male gender (OR, 4.450; 95% CI, 1.250-15.836, = 0.021) were associated with abnormal warm threshold of hands. Furthermore, diabetes (OR, 3.966; 95% CI, 1.351-11.819, = 0.012) and lower GNRI (per 1 unit increase, OR, 0.935, 95% CI, 0.887-0.985, = 0.012) were associated with abnormal cold threshold of feet. Arterial stiffness (OR, 5.479, 95% CI, 1.132-22.870, = 0.020) and higher calcium-phosphorus product (OR, 1.071, 95% CI, 1.013-1.132, = 0.015) were associated with abnormal warm threshold of feet.

Conclusions: Lower GNRI and arterial stiffness were significantly associated with small fiber neuropathy in patients undergoing HD. Malnutrition risk and vascular factors might play important roles in small fiber neuropathy among patients undergoing HD.