The Allocation of Vertical Attention in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease Receiving Dialysis

Objectives: Alterations of spatial attention can have adverse effects, such a greater probability of accidents. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving dialysis have stronger left-sided spatial attentional bias, suggesting that this disorder or treatment alters the brain networks that mediate spatial attention. The hemispheric networks that mediate the allocation of horizontal attention may also influence the allocation of vertical attention. However, the allocation of vertical spatial attention has not been studied in ESRD patients. Methods: Twenty-three ESRD patients receiving dialysis and 23 healthy right-handed controls performed line bisections using 24 vertical lines (24 cm long and 2 mm thick) aligned with the intersection of their midsagittal and coronal planes. Results: Hemodialyzed ESRD patients had a significantly greater upward bias than healthy controls. The magnitude of this bias was correlated with the duration of the kidney disease. Conclusions: The reason why upward attentional bias is increased in hemodialyzed ESRD patients is not known. Further research is needed to better understand the brain mechanism that might account for this bias, as well as its treatment. However, hemodialyzed ESRD patients and their families-caregivers should be made aware of this disorder to avoid accidents such as tripping.