Is decreased sweating a feature of chronic renal failure?

Abstract

Patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) were noted to complain of changes in their capacity to sweat. Since this is not a commonly mentioned feature, a pilot study was done to confirm this clinical impression and to characterize some of its features. Method: 23 adults with CRF were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Several open ended and direct questions were asked to elicit information on sweating, and other symptoms. Patients with nephrotic syndrome (n= 11 acted as controls. None of the patients were taking drugs known to affect sweating. Results: 15 (65.2%) of those with CRF stated they had decreased sweating, 19 (82.6%) had pruritus and 11 (47 .8%) had dry skin. 9 patients with CRF underwent renal transplantation and 14, haemodialysis. Increased sweating after dialysis was noticed by 8 (57.1 %) and after transplantation by 3(33.3%). None in the control group complained of abnormalities in sweating. Conclusions: Our results suggest that decreased sweating is a common feature of CRF. The increase in sweating after transplantation and dialysis suggests a reversible factor affecting the function of sweat glands. Atrophy of sweat glands and anhidrosis have been described in renal failure. However it is not mentioned in many of the recent textbooks of medicine. The symptoms may be an important marker of chronically in more tropical regions. Further studies are in progress to characterize its significance and pathophysiological basis.