Detrended Fluctuation Analysis of Photoplethysmography in Diabetic Nephropathy Patients on Hemodialysis

This research was examines the autonomic nervous response on diabetic nephropathy patients before and after starting dialysis. The subjects included 14 healthy adults and 14 patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis (HD) (7 diabetic nephropathy patients and 7 non-diabetic nephropathy patients). The photoplethysmography of the subjects was measured. Using detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), the alpha of the pulse waves was calculated and compared among the subjects. The mean alpha(1) after starting the hemodialysis session in diabetic nephropathy patients was significantly smaller than the mean alpha(1) in the healthy adults, the mean alpha(1) before starting the hemodialysis session in diabetic nephropathy patients, and the mean alpha(1) after starting the hemodialysis session in non-diabetic nephropathy patients. There was no significant difference between any groups in alpha(2). These results suggest that hemodialysis affects the autonomic nervous system in diabetic nephropathy patients.