Bimodal dialysis: an integrated approach to renal replacement therapy.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) are both widely used as sole therapies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There is still controversy over which (if either) is superior in terms of patient outcomes. Peritoneal dialysis offers the advantages of long, slow, continuous ultrafiltration and potentially enhanced protection of residual renal function (RRF). In contrast, HD offers superior solute removal at the cost of undesirable cardiovascular tolerance of high rates of sodium and water removal. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical feasibility of offering a combined treatment of both modalities [bimodal dialysis (BMD)] to incident patients reaching ESRD. We set out to investigate if it might be possible to utilize the intrinsic advantages of both modalities within a setting of good patient acceptability. METHODS: We prospectively studied 8 patients. They were recruited in the pre-ESRD phase from a specialist low clearance clinic. An arteriovenous fistula was formed and peritoneal catheters were inserted. The BMD consisted of 2, 3-hour, high efficiency, euvolemic HD sessions per week in combination with 2 PD exchanges per day to provide a degree of solute clearance and all of the ultrafiltration. Adequacy was measured independently for each modality. Patients were followed using the standard range of evaluations in addition to RRF (by creatinine clearance and EDTA clearance), echocardiography (left ventricular mass and ventricular performance), treatment outcomes, patient symptoms, and complications. RESULTS: Mean time on BMD was 346 +/- 74.9 (range 245 - 431) days. Peritonitis rate was 21 months per episode (mean 0.6 +/- 0.9, 0 - 2 episodes per patient). Mean peritoneal ultrafiltration volume was 1.58 +/- 0.32 (1.3 - 2.1) L per day. Delivered Kt/V and weekly PD Kt/V did not change significantly. Patients' RRF was maintained over the study period, as were serum albumin and control of serum phosphorus. Blood pressure was controlled with a reduction in the number of antihypertensive agents. Left ventricular mass index reduced over the treatment period, from a mean of 194 +/- 31.2 (161 - 265) to 156 +/- 21.2 (138 - 189) g/m2 (p = 0.05). Ventricular performance remained unchanged over the study [ejection fraction 50.4 +/- 11.1 (38 - 67) % to 48 +/- 8.0 (48 - 67) %]. Mean time during BMD spent on HD alone was 4.2 +/- 6.9 (0 - 16) days, and on PD alone 9.2 +/- 10.6 (0 - 25) days. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that BMD is a feasible treatment for ESRD. It is associated with adequate solute removal and good hemodynamic/volume control, and allows increased treatment flexibility for coping with complications normally requiring recourse to unplanned HD with temporary central venous access.     

The relationship between Kt/V(urea) and nPNA in anuric peritoneal dialysis patients: a comparison with predialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: It is unknown whether a given level of urea clearance by the native kidneys provides better or similar control of uremia than the same level of urea clearance by continuous peritoneal dialysis (PD). More insight into possible differences between renal and peritoneal urea clearances is warranted. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between Kt/V(urea) and protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance normalized to body weight (nPNA), the relationship between urea clearance and creatinine appearance, and other nutritional parameters in PD patients without residual renal function, and in predialysis end-stage renal disease patients. PATIENTS: All patients participated in the Netherlands Cooperative Study on the Adequacy of Dialysis. This is a prospective cohort study of incident dialysis patients, in whom regular assessments of renal function are done. A group of 75 PD patients was identified at the first follow-up assessment in which their urine production was less than 100 mL/day. These patients were considered the anuric group. This group was compared with a control group of 97 predialysis patients studied 0-4 weeks before the start of dialysis treatment. RESULTS: Linear relationships were present between Kt/V(urea) and nPNA, in both the predialysis patients and the anuric PD patients. A significant difference was present between the slopes of the two regression lines (0.40 vs 0.18, p = 0.007). When Kt/V(urea) exceeded 1.3/week, a given level of Kt/V(urea) was associated with a higher nPNA in predialysis than in anuric PD patients. Similar relationships were found between Kt(urea) and PNA. Kt(urea) was also significantly related to urine or dialysate creatinine appearance. A significant difference existed between the slopes of the regression lines in the two groups of patients (p < 0.001). A weekly Kt(urea) of 70 L was associated with a urine creatinine appearance of 11.0 mmol/day and a dialysate creatinine appearance of 8.4 mmol/day. Nutritional status measured with creatinine appearance and Subjective Global Assessment was better in the predialysis population, despite much lower values for Kt/V(urea) in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between Kt/V(urea) and nPNA in anuric PD patients is different from that in a predialysis population. It follows from our results that, when Kt/V(urea) is above 1.3/week, a given level of Kt/V(urea) is associated with a higher nPNA in predialysis than in anuric PD patients.This challenges the concept of equivalency between renal and peritoneal Kt/V(urea) with respect to control of uremic morbidity.     

Influence of residual renal function on dietary protein and caloric intake in patients on incremental peritoneal dialysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate protein and caloric intake in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients on an incremental dialysis schedule, in an attempt to discriminate the influence of residual renal function (RRF) on these nutritional parameters. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PATIENTS: Nine patients who had significant RRF at the beginning of PD therapy, which permitted a schedule of incremental PD (i.e., the number of peritoneal exchanges was increased as the RRF fell) in order to maintain the sum of renal and peritoneal clearance (weekly Kt/V urea) at approximately 2. METHODS: The mean adequacy parameters (urine and peritoneal Kt/V urea and creatinine clearance) along with the mean dietary energy (DEI) and protein intake (DPI) estimated by 3-day diet histories, were determined 6 and 9 months after the beginning of PD, when patients had RRF (period 1), and 6 and 9 months after the loss of RRF (period 2). The mean data obtained in both periods were compared. The best determinants for the changes in DEI and DPI after the loss of RRF were also investigated. RESULTS: Mean total Kt/V urea was very similar in both periods (2.16+/-0.32 vs 2.15+/-0.18), although creatinine clearance decreased significantly after the loss of RRF (74.41+/-12.28 L/week/1.73 m2 vs 56.78+/-11.77 L/week/1.73 m2, p = 0.0001). Absolute and normalized DPI values for actual body weight decreased after the loss of RRF (68.21+/-11.87 g/kg vs 59.27+/-13.66 g/kg, p = 0.02; and 1.17+/-0.32 g/kg/day vs 0.97+/-0.32 g/kg/day, p = 0.01). Although the energy delivered by peritoneal glucose uptake increased significantly after the loss of RRF, the mean total energy intake (DEI plus peritoneal glucose uptake) was very similar in both periods (2141+/-339 kcal/day vs 2010+/-303 kcal/day, p = 0.13). However, the mean total energy intake normalized for actual body weight decreased significantly after the loss of RRF (37.5+/-10.1 kcal/kg/day vs 32.8+/-8.9 kcal/kg/day, p = 0.02). The changes in DEI and DPI between periods 1 and 2 correlated negatively with the difference of the energy delivered by peritoneal glucose uptake (r = 0.65, p = 0.05, and r = 0.88, p = 0.001, respectively). The magnitude of DPI changes between both periods correlated significantly with the magnitude of urinary Kt/V urea changes (r = 0.77, p = 0.01). However, there was no correlation between the changes in DPI and the changes in total Kt/V urea, total or renal creatinine clearance, or the length of time on PD. CONCLUSIONS: The loss of RRF led to a reduction in dietary caloric and protein intake. The magnitude of the reduction in the DPI was strongly correlated with the increase in the energy delivered by peritoneal glucose uptake and with the decrease in the urinary Kt/V urea, but not with the total Kt/V urea.     

Small and middle molecular weight solute clearance in nocturnal intermittent peritoneal dialysis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the dialysate-to-plasma (D/P) concentration ratios and peritoneal dialytic clearance (CI(D)) of substances with a wide range of molecular weights in subjects receiving a simulated nocturnal intermittent peritoneal dialysis (NIPD) session. DESIGN: Open-label single-dose study. SUBJECTS: Six end-stage renal disease patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). SETTING: Clinical research center of a university-affiliated hospital. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects received intravenous gentamicin and vancomycin on the first day of the study. Subjects received no PD until their return on the following day, when subjects underwent a simulated NIPD session utilizing four 2- to 2.5-L peritoneal dialysate dwells of 2 hours. Blood and dialysate samples were collected immediately before the session and after each dialysate dwell for determination of urea, creatinine, gentamicin, vancomycin, and beta2-microglobulin (beta2M) concentrations. Each solute's D/P concentration ratio and peritoneal CI(D) were calculated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The (mean +/- SD) 2-hour D/P concentration ratios were 0.78 +/- 0.05 (urea), 0.49 +/- 0.11 (creatinine), 0.38 +/- 0.08 (gentamicin), 0.11 +/- 0.06 (vancomycin), and 0.07 +/- 0.03 (beta2M). Peritoneal CI(D) values (mL/min of dialysis) were 19.0 +/- 2.8 (urea), 12.1 +/- 3.5 (creatinine), 8.4 +/- 2.8 (gentamicin), 2.7 +/- 1.5 (vancomycin), and 1.7 +/- 0.8 (beta2M).The D/P concentration ratios and peritoneal CI(D) values for urea, creatinine, and gentamicin were significantly different from vancomycin and beta2M (repeated measures ANOVA, p < 0.05). Beta2-microglobulin peritoneal CI(D) was strongly related to gentamicin peritoneal CI(D) (r = 0.96, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Small molecular weight solutes have significantly greater D/P and peritoneal CI(D) than middle molecular weight solutes in NIPD. In NIPD, daily peritoneal CI(D) of beta2M is lower than that reported in continuous ambulatory PD. NIPD also results in lower drug CI(D) than that reported in continuous ambulatory PD studies.     

Peritoneal dialysis for management of pediatric acute renal failure.

BACKGROUND: While the use of continuous renal replacement therapies in the management of children with acute renal failure (ARF) has increased, the role of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the treatment of pediatric ARF has received less attention. DESIGN: Retrospective database review of children requiring PD for ARF over a 10-year period. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit at a tertiary-care referral center. PATIENTS: Sixty-three children without previously known underlying renal disease who required PD for treatment of ARF. RESULTS: Causes of ARF were congestive heart failure (27), hemolytic-uremic syndrome (13), sepsis (10), nonrenal organ transplant (7), malignancy (3), and other (3). Mean duration of PD was 11 +/- 13 days. Children with ARF were younger (30 +/- 48 months vs 88 +/- 68 months old, p < 0.0001) and smaller (11.9 +/- 15.9 kg vs 28 +/- 22 kg, p < 0.0001) than children with known underlying renal disease who began PD during the same time period. Percutaneously placed PD catheters were used in 62% of children with ARF, compared to 4% of children with known renal disease (p < 0.0001). Hypotension was common in patients with ARF (46%), which correlated with a high frequency of vasopressor use (78%) at the time of initiation of PD. Complications of PD occurred in 25% of patients, the most common being catheter malfunction. Recovery of renal function occurred in 38% of patients; patient survival was 51%. CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneal dialysis remains an appropriate therapy for pediatric ARF from many causes, even in severely ill children requiring vasopressor support. Such children can be cared for without the use of more expensive and technology-dependent forms of renal replacement therapies.     

The clinical usefulness of peritoneal dialysis fluids with neutral pH and low glucose degradation product concentration: an open randomized prospective trial

BACKGROUND: Long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) is associated with the development of various structural and functional changes to the peritoneal membrane when bioincompatible conventional peritoneal dialysis fluids (PDFs) are used. In this study, we looked at patients that were treated with conventional PDFs and then changed to novel biocompatible PDFs with a neutral pH and a low concentration of glucose degradation products (GDPs) to investigate whether this change could result in the arrest or reversal of peritoneal membrane deterioration. METHODS: In an open label, randomized prospective trial, the clinical effects of conventional PDFs and biocompatible PDFs with neutral pH and very low concentration of GDPs were compared in 104 patients equally divided between both study PDFs. Blood and effluent dialysate samples, peritoneal equilibration tests, and adequacy evaluation were undertaken at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 months. The target variables were the ratio of dialysate-to-plasma (D/P) creatinine, peritoneal ultrafiltration, residual renal function, dialysis adequacy indices, and effluent cancer antigen 125 (CA125). RESULTS: D/P creatinine values were not different in the two groups. Peritoneal ultrafiltration was significantly higher in the low-GDP PDF group than in the conventional PDF group at all follow-up times (4 months: 9.1 +/- 4.3 vs 6.0 +/- 3.0; 8 months: 8.3 +/- 3.4 vs 6.0 +/- 3.0; 12 months: 8.9 +/- 3.3 vs 6.1 +/- 3.3 mL/g dextrose/day; p < 0.05). Peritoneal Kt/V urea values and total weekly Kt/V urea values at 4 months were significantly higher in the low-GDP PDF group than in the conventional PDF group. Residual renal function was not statistically significant. Effluent CA125 levels were significantly higher in the low-GDP PDF group at all follow-up visits (4 months: 37.8 +/- 20.8 vs 22.0 +/- 9.5; 8 months: 41.2 +/- 20.3 vs 25.9 +/- 11.3; 12 months: 40.4 +/- 21.4 vs 28.6 +/- 13.0 U/mL; p < 0.05). Among anuric patients, peritoneal ultrafiltration at 4, 8, and 12 months, total weekly Kt/V at 4 and 8 months, and CA125 levels at all follow-up visits were significantly higher in patients treated with low-GDP PDF than those treated with conventional PDF. However, among anuric patients, D/P creatinine showed no significant differences between the low-GDP PDF group and the conventional PDF group. CONCLUSION: The use of biocompatible PDFs with neutral pH and low GDP concentration can contribute to improvement of peritoneal ultrafiltration and peritoneal effluent CA125 level, an indicator of peritoneal membrane integrity in PD patients.     

Suitable dialytic indicators for pediatric peritoneal dialysis patients: the alternative to creatinine clearance.

OBJECTIVE: Owing to the discord between body weight and body surface area (BSA), creatinine clearance (CCr) is predisposed to be small in pediatric patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Alternatively, Kt/V creatinine (Kt/V creat), which is normalized to total body water (TBW) rather than BSA, could be a better dialytic indicator. In this study, the efficiency of dialysis and the nutritional status of pediatric patients on chronic PD were examined, and the utility of dialytic indicators was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 49 patients under 20 years old, in stable condition, and on PD were analyzed. Weekly total Kt/V of urea (Kt/V urea), CCr, Kt/V creat, and normalized protein equivalent of nitrogen appearance (nPNA) were measured for all patients and for patients under 6 years old. The target value was 2.0/week for Kt/V urea and 60 L/ week/1.73 m2 for CCr, as recommended by the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines. The target value for Kt/V creat was set as 1.52/week, using a male model with a height of 170 cm and a body weight of 65 kg. RESULTS: The mean values of delivered Kt/V urea, CCr, Kt/V creat, and nPNA (and proportion of patients that achieved each target value) for all patients were 2.25 +/- 0.57/ week (67.4%), 53.8 +/- 19.3 L/week1/.73 m2 (26.5%), 1.83 +/- 0.73/ week (65.3%), and 1.11 +/- 0.42 g/day, respectively. The values for patients under 6 years old were 2.38 +/- 0.26/week (90.0%), 45.9 +/- 12.8 L/week/1.73 m2 (10.0%), 1.94 +/- 0.51/week (90.0%), and 1.52 +/- 0.67 g/day, respectively. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that the relationship between CCr and Kt/V urea was affected by the patient's age. CONCLUSIONS: Our pediatric patients achieved the recommended target value of Kt/V urea. At the same time, the nPNA results reflected the patient's status well. However, CCr appeared to be inappropriate as an indicator for patients under 6 years old. Kt/V creat is suggested to be a better dialytic indicator for these patients.     

Preoperative 24-hour urine amount as an independent predictor of renal outcome in poor cardiac function patients after coronary artery bypass grafting

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence and the main pre-operative risk factors for the development of acute renal failure (ARF) in triple vessels coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with special reference to a subset of patients with poor cardiac function (ejection fraction <50%). PATIENTS: The study included the patients (n = 66) requiring CABG from January 1, 1995 to January 1, 2002 in a medical center. RESULTS: A high percentage (84.8%) of patients developed ARF and 57.6% of patients received hemodialysis (HD). Preoperative variables significantly associated with the development of ARF included increased age, increased preoperative serum creatinine, decreased preoperative 24-hour urine output and accepted emergent CABG. By the logistic multivariate regression model, increased age (OR = 1.16), preoperative serum creatinine (OR = 3.58,), decreased preoperative 24-hour urine amount (OR = 0.99,) and emergent CABG (OR = 2.01) were independently associated with ARF. As for the need for HD, those factors including, preoperative serum creatinine (2.11 +/- 1.13 v 3.08 +/- 1.67 mg/dL) and preoperative 24-hour urine output (1358.6 +/- 745.9 v 755.2 +/- 572.1 mL/day) were significantly associated with requirement of dialysis. Using multivariate logistic regression, the significant risk factors independently associated with dialysis were preoperative serum creatinine (OR = 1.34) and preoperative 24-hour urine output (OR = 0.99). Patients with non- oliguric renal failure had significantly greater chance of recovering their renal function after cardiac surgery compared to those with oliguria (36.9% v 10.0%, P <.05). CONCLUSION: Preoperative 24-hour urine amount and pre-operative serum creatinine can provide valuable information for predicting the likelihood of developing acute renal failure and requiring dialysis in this subgroup of patients.     

Effect of filtration volume of continuous venovenous hemofiltration in the treatment of patients with acute renal failure in intensive care units

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the variable Kt/V, which has become established in the therapy of end-stage renal disease in acute renal failure, to assess the influence of the filtration volume of continuous venovenous hemofiltration on Kt/V. We measured the variables of acid-base balance and uremia control. DESIGN: Prospective interventional pilot study. SETTING: Medical intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty-six patients with acute renal failure and continuous venovenous hemofiltration treatment. INTERVENTIONS: The patients were consecutively treated with a filtration volume of either 1 L/hr (group 1) or 1.5 L/hr (group 2). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients with a filtration volume of 1.5 L/hr achieved a Kt/V of 0.8 per day, which was significantly higher than in the patient group treated with 1 L/hr (0.53, p <.05). The filtration volume of 1.5 L/hr led to a markedly better control of blood urea nitrogen concentrations, 69.3 +/- 6.6 mg/dL vs. 52.1 +/- 5.2 (p <.05), and to a much quicker and longer lasting compensation of acidosis. Both groups had acidotic pH at the beginning of therapy (group 1, 7.29 +/- 0.02; group 2, 7.29 +/- 0.02, nonsignificant). In group 2, a significantly higher pH value than in group 1 was measured after 24 hrs of continuous venovenous hemofiltration (p < .001; 7.39 +/- 0.02 vs. 7.31 +/- 0.02). The pH values in group 1 did not normalize until after 4 days. The filtration volume of 1.5 L/hr led to a quicker increase in bicarbonate concentrations after 24 hrs of therapy (group 1, 2.8 +/- 3.2 mmol/L; group 2, 6.5 +/- 3.1 mmol/L, p <.001). CONCLUSIONS: The standardized urea clearance Kt/V is a valuable tool in the treatment of acute renal failure. Higher Kt/V levels were associated with a better control of uremia and acid-base balance. However, there were no differences in the clinical course, patient survival, percentage of patients with or without renal failure who were transferred from the intensive care unit, or Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III scores.     

Correlation of intraperitoneal antibiotic pharmacokinetics and peritoneal membrane transport characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To identify correlations between the pharmacokinetic variables that describe drug disposition in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and the measures used to assess dialysis adequacy. DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective study re-evaluated data collected during previous pharmacokinetic studies for intraperitoneally administered cefazolin, ceftazidime, and gentamicin in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, and intravenous cefazolin and tobramycin in automated PD patients. Pharmacokinetic variables were compared to creatinine clearance (CCr), Kt/V, and peritoneal equilibration test data using the Pearson product correlation coefficient (r). RESULTS: Prominent correlations were found between renal CCr and renal Kt/V, with renal clearances of CAPD cefazolin and ceftazidime, and automated PD tobramycin and cefazolin (r values ranged from 0.698 to 0.986; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings support current peritonitis treatment recommendations that patients with residual renal function may require higher doses or more frequent drug administration.     

Residual renal function in a large cohort of peritoneal dialysis patients: change over time, impact on mortality and nutrition.

OBJECTIVE: Residual renal function contributes importantly to total solute clearance in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. This study was designed to examine the progression of residual renal function over time and its impact on nutrition and mortality in PD patients in the six New England states (ME, NH, VT, CT, MA, RI) comprising End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network 1. DESIGN: As part of the ESRD Clinical Indicators Project, data on 990 PD patients in Network 1 were abstracted from data supplied by dialysis units in the fourth quarter of 1997. This included demographic information; dose of PD in L/day; weekly renal, dialysis, and total Kt/V urea; weekly renal, dialysis, and total creatinine clearance (CCr); serum albumin level; and mortality and transplantation information. Data collection was repeated in the second and fourth quarters of 1998 and in the second quarter of 1999. PATIENTS: 990 PD patients in Network 1. OUTCOME MEASURES: The change in total and renal solute clearances over time, the relationship between renal clearance and mortality, and the relationship between renal clearance and nutritional status, as represented by serum albumin. RESULTS: Over the 2-year period, mean weekly renal Kt/V urea and weekly renal CCr dropped significantly. To examine the effect of residual renal function on mortality, patients were divided into high and low (above and below the median) weekly renal Kt/V urea and weekly renal CCr groups. Patients above the median levels of both weekly renal Kt/V urea and weekly renal CCr had a significantly decreased risk of dying during the observation period, after controlling for age, gender, serum albumin level, and diabetic status [OR for high vs low renal Kt/V urea 0.54 (CI 0.34 - 0.84), OR for high vs low renal CCr 0.61 (CI 0.40 - 0.94)]. The mean weekly renal Kt/V urea was significantly and directly correlated with the mean serum albumin level by Spearman rank correlation (R = 0.133, p < 0.001), as was the mean weekly renal CCr (R = 0.115, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Residual renal function is an important contributor to total solute clearance in PD patients. Even at low levels it is linked to decreased mortality and better nutritional status.     

腹膜透析治疗小儿先心病术后急性肾功能衰竭

目的 探讨腹膜透析(PD)对小儿先天性心脏病术后急性肾功能衰竭(ARF)的治疗效果。方法 对36例先心病术后ARF行腹膜透析治疗患儿的临床资料进行透析效果、转归合并症进行回顾性分析。结果 单纯ARF的死亡率12.5％,显著低于合并其它系统器官衰竭组的45％(P<0.05),腹膜透析3～30天内肾功能恢复,其中1～2天内血钾[K~ ]恢复正常,2～5天内血碳酸氢根[HCO_3~-]恢复正常,4～6天内血尿素氮(BUN)下降49.2％,血肌酐(Cr)下降42.6％。结论 对小儿先心病术后ARF,及早进行腹膜透析具有较好的治疗效果。     

Influence of peritoneal transport rate, inflammation, and fluid removal on nutritional status and clinical outcome in prevalent peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible associations between peritoneal transport rate (PTR), fluid removal, inflammation, and nutritional status in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD) for more than 6 months, and the impact of these factors on subsequent patient survival. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: A prospective study of 82 PD patients (48 males) that had been treated with PD more than 6 months. Based on the dialysate-to-plasma creatinine ratio at 4 hours of dwell (D/P Cr; mean +/- 1 SD), the patients were classified as having a high (H), high-average (HA), low-average (LA), or low (L) PTR. SETTING: Single PD unit in a university hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The PTR, evaluation of adequacy of dialysis and nutritional status, and biochemical analyses were assessed at 10.8 +/- 2.8 months after the start of PD. RESULTS: Compared to L and LA (L/LA) transporters, H and HA (H/HA) transporters had increased dialysate protein loss, glucose absorption from dialysate, and peritoneal creatinine clearance (CCr), and decreased night ultrafiltration volume and total Kt/V urea. However, nutritional variables, 24-hour total fluid removal (TFR), total CCr, and residual renal function were not significantly different between the two groups. The 24-hour TFR correlated significantly with D/P Cr (rho = -0.25), mean arterial pressure (rho = -0.23), serum albumin (rho = 0.25), normalized protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance (rho = 0.34), lean body mass (LBM) calculated from creatinine kinetics (rho = 0.41), total Kt/N urea (rho = 0.42), and total CCr (rho = 0.30). The group with serum C-reactive protein (sCRP) > or = 10 mg/L had a higher proportion of patients with reduced (< 1,000 mL) TFR compared to the group with sCRP < 10 mg/L (38% vs 16%, p = 0.04). Two-year patient survival rates from the time of the assessment were not different between the different transport groups (78% vs 73% for H/HA and L/LA, p = 0.99). Upon Cox proportional hazards multivariate analysis, age and high sCRP were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that, in a selected group of prevalent PD patients assessed after more than 6 months of PD therapy, (1) inflammation was an independent predictor for mortality; (2) reduced TFR was associated with impaired nutritional status, decreased small solute clearance, and inflammation; and (3) peritoneal transport status was not significantly associated with nutritional status and was not associated with subsequent patient survival. These results indicate that a high peritoneal solute transport rate, as such, should not be regarded as a relative contraindication for PD. Instead, the results suggest that more attention should be given to inflammation and inadequate fluid removal as predictors of mortality in PD patients.     

Risk factors for early mortality in U.S. peritoneal dialysis patients: impact of residual renal function.

BACKGROUND: Potential risk factors for 1-year mortality, including the peritoneal component of dialysis dose, residual renal function, demographic data, hematocrit, serum albumin, dialysate-to-plasma creatinine ratio, and blood pressure, were examined in a national cohort of peritoneal dialysis patients randomly selected for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Core Indicators Project. METHODS: The study involved retrospective analysis of a cohort of 1,219 patients receiving chronic peritoneal dialysis who were alive on December 31, 1996. RESULTS: During the 1-year follow-up period, 275 patients were censored and 200 non censored patients died. Among the 763 patients who had at least one calculable adequacy measure, the mean [+/- standard deviation (SD)] weekly Kt/V urea was 2.16 +/- 0.61 and the mean weekly creatinine clearance was 66.1 +/- 24.4 L/1.73 m2. Excluding the 365 patients who were anuric, the mean (+/- SD) urinary weekly Kt/V urea was 0.64 +/- 0.52 (median: 0.51) and the mean (+/- SD) urinary weekly creatinine clearance was 31.0 +/- 23.3 L/1.73 m2 (median: 26.3 L/1.73 m2). By Cox proportional hazard modeling, lower quartiles of renal Kt/V urea were predictive of 1-year mortality; lower quartiles of renal creatinine clearance were of borderline significance for predicting 1-year mortality. The dialysate component of neither the weekly creatinine clearance nor the weekly Kt/V urea were predictive of 1-year mortality. Other predictors of 1-year mortality (p < 0.01) included lower serum albumin level, older age, and the presence of diabetes mellitus as the cause of ESRD, and, for the creatinine clearance model only, lower diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Residual renal function is an important predictor of 1-year mortality in chronic peritoneal dialysis patients.     

Independent effects of renal and peritoneal clearances on the mortality of peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies show that peritoneal Kt/V is an independent predictor of survival in anuric patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). We studied whether peritoneal Kt/V has the same effect in CAPD patients with residual renal function. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Single dialysis center in a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: New and prevalent CAPD patients. METHODS: We examined the 5-year follow-up results of our prospective study previously reported (Kidney Int 2000; 58:400-7). A total of 270 CAPD patients were followed for up to 6 years. Dialysis adequacy indices, residual renal function, and nutritional data were monitored. OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes included mortality and technique failure. Peritoneal Kt/V rather than total Kt/V was used for multivariate survival analysis. RESULTS: Average duration of follow-up was 35.1 +/- 22.0 months. Average peritoneal Kt/V throughout the study was 1.59 +/- 0.37; median residual glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 0.82 mL/minute. Five-year actuarial patient survival was 41.5%, and technique survival was 23.1%. Multivariate analysis showed that sex, age, duration of dialysis, presence of diabetes, serum albumin, dialysate-to-plasma creatinine ratio at 24 hours, peritoneal Kt/V, residual GFR, and normalized protein nitrogen appearance were independent factors of both actuarial patient survival and technique survival. For every 0.1 unit higher peritoneal Kt/V, relative mortality risk was 0.94 (95% Cl 0.89 - 0.99, p = 0.03). When prevalent and new CAPD cases were analyzed separately, peritoneal Kt/V predicted survival only for prevalent CAPD patients. CONCLUSION: We conclude that, in prevalent CAPD patients with relatively low levels of peritoneal clearance and residual renal function, a higher peritoneal Kt/V is associated with better survival. Peritoneal clearance below 1.6-1.7 likely has a major detrimental effect on the clinical outcome of CAPD patients with little residual renal function.     

Utilization of peritoneal dialysis in the acute setting.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD), although classically described and utilized in the treatment of patients with end-stage renal disease, can also be utilized in the acute setting in different clinical situations. Recent studies showed that, in patients with acute renal failure, it is possible to obtain reasonable dialysis doses with adequate metabolic and electrolytic control and low incidence of complications by utilizing continuous PD through a cycler at high volume. In patients with congestive heart failure without end-stage renal disease, PD is capable of promoting clinical improvement with slow removal of liquids, becoming an attractive alternative for situations of rapidly or slowly worsening cardiac function. In patients submitted to chronic hemodialysis but who have vascular access difficulties, PD can also be utilized as a "bridge," thereby avoiding the use of central venous catheters, which can be associated with infectious complications such as bacterial endocarditis. New studies must be realized showing other indications for PD.