Background & Objectives : Although peripheral neuropathy involvement is well recognized in chronic renal failure, there are only a few studies on the evalution of central nervous system in these patients. Blink reflex as a simple and non-invasive test for evaluation of central nervous system can be helpful in patients with uremic neuropathy.

  Methods : This case-control and prospective study was performed on 18 patients with chronic renal failure (mean age 41.2) and 21 healthy subjects (maen age 37). Supraobital nerve stimulation was used to compare the subjects in two groups in terms of R1, IR2 and CR2 response latencies. The data were analyzed using SPSS (Ver.10).

  Results : Healthy subjects’ mean latencies for R1, IR2 and CR2 were 10.7, 31.9 and 33.1 milliseconds respectively. In chronic renal failure group it was 11.7, 34.3 and 35.1 millisecond respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).

  Conclusion : In addition to peripheral neuropathy, cranial nerve involvement is seen in chronic renal failure. Therefore, blink reflex can be used as a simple and non-invasive method for evaluation of cranial nerve involvement.