Aspergillus peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

Aspergillus peritonitis is a rare and serious cause of peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. We report 3 cases of aspergillus peritonitis in CAPD which were successfully treated by catheter removal and amphotericin. Two of the 3 patients returned temporarily to CAPD, but were subsequently transferred to hemodialysis because of membrane failure. A novel finding in 2 of the 3 cases was a positive Limulus amebocyte lysate test, despite negative bacterial cultures. We discuss the possible relevance of this finding to the diagnosis of aspergillus infections and emphasize the importance of early catheter removal for successful treatment of this condition.     

Potassium metabolism in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

Background: Hypokalemia is common and may have contributed to the poor clinical outcome in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. In this study, we made a detailed investigation on the potassium metabolism in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients and tried to find out the possible factors associated with the high prevalence of hypokalemia in PD patients. Methods: A cross-sectional survey in 243 clinically stable CAPD patients was made in our PD center in 2010. Patients were divided into four groups according to whether they were anuric or not and different dialysis regimens. Patients’ demographic data and data on potassium metabolism including dietary potassium intakes, residual renal potassium, and peritoneal dialysis potassium removal were collected. Results: The average potassium intake in our 243 PD patients was 32.1?±?11.1?mmol/day. The total potassium removal was significantly higher in non-anuric patients as compared to anuric patients (33.2?±?9.1 vs. 23.0?±?4.7?mmol/day for 3 exchanges per day and 35.2?±?8.9 vs. 28.6?±?6.3?mmol/day for 4 exchanges per day, respectively, p?p?p?p?R² linear?=?0.645, p?Conclusions: Our study suggested that if potassium intake was limited in PD patients, we should be aware of the risk of hypokalemia with high doses of PD when patients have good RRF. Our study also suggested that potassium removal in PD patients may not necessarily reflect potassium intake even if serum potassium is normal, the effect of ICW should be considered when evaluating potassium homeostasis.     

持续性非卧床腹膜透析腹膜炎的病原菌及其耐药性分析

回顾性分析142例次持续性非卧床腹膜透析(CAPD)腹膜炎的病原菌和耐药性,探讨其临床意义.     

Protein losses in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Total protein and 12 specific proteins were measured in dialysates from 8 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis during training. Mean daily loss of total protein was 10.5 g and this included 5.2 g albumin, 805 mg of the immunoglobulins G, A and M, 323 mg transferrin and 530 mg of the remaining 7 proteins measured. The plasma to dialysate ratio of protein concentrations correlated with the natural logarithm of molecular weight, suggesting that proteins in dialysate are an ultrafiltrate of plasma. A greater loss of proteins overnight was due to longer dwell time as the mean rate of loss was similar for all exchanges. Losses were similar with 1.36% and 3.86% dextrose fluids, suggesting that the initial effects of hypertonicity are diminished or reversed by dilution and absorption of dextrose. Daily outflow volumes for 4 patients correlated inversely with the quantities of several proteins removed, probably due to effects of osmolality. It is concluded that protein losses are related to plasma concentration, molecular weight and osmolality of the dialysis solution and to the physiology of the patient.     

Procainamide pharmacokinetics in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

The pharmacokinetics of procainamide in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis have been studied. A mean peak plasma concentration of 3.2 +/- 0.6 microgram/ml was achieved about 2 h after a single 500-mg oral procainamide hydrochloride dose. The procainamide elimination half-life ranged from 6.1 to 15.3 h. Apparent oral clearance, 183.7 +/- 63.2 ml/min, was less than half that observed in healthy adults suggesting markedly reduced dosage requirements. Continuous ambulatory dialysis patients exhibit similar procainamide pharmacokinetic parameters as do end stage renal disease patients, most notably a prolonged elimination half-life and reduced oral clearance.     

Leptin in peritoneal dialysate from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin is the 16-kd product of the ob gene that regulates food intake and body weight. Plasma leptin level is elevated in patients with chronic renal failure, partly because of impaired clearance through the kidney. In this study, we examined whether leptin is cleared into peritoneal dialysate in patients with end-stage renal disease treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The subjects were 46 CAPD patients and 67 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. Leptin concentration in peritoneal dialysate from CAPD patients was measurable by a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the daily loss of leptin by the peritoneal route was estimated to correspond to the amount contained in approximately 2 L plasma. Dialysate leptin concentration correlated positively with plasma leptin level and with percent body fat measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The dialysate-to-plasma (D/P) ratio of leptin concentration was twice higher than expected from its molecular weight. D/P ratios of beta2-microglobulin, albumin, and transferrin showed strong correlations with each other (r = 0.768 to 0.801), whereas the correlation between D/P ratios of leptin and beta2-microglobulin was less impressive (r = 0.378). This was also the case with the relationship between apparent peritoneal clearances of these macromolecules, suggesting that dialysate leptin had some origins other than passive transport of plasma leptin. To test the hypothesis that abdominal visceral fat may contribute to the unexpectedly raised peritoneal dialysate leptin concentration, multiple regression analysis was performed. Leptin concentration in peritoneal dialysate showed significant association with plasma leptin level and D/P ratio of beta2-microglobulin, and it also showed an independent association with abdominal visceral fat but not with subcutaneous fat assessed by ultrasonography. These results showed that peritoneal dialysate from CAPD patients contained a significant amount of leptin, which derived presumably from both plasma and local visceral fat tissue.     

Ultrafiltration capacity and peritoneal fluid kinetics in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

Abstract:  Volume control is critical for peritoneal dialysis. Although peritoneal equilibration test (PET) has been used to clarify the peritoneal membrane characteristics, it is not able to adequately predict peritoneal fluid removal and optimize appropriately the dwell time. In the present study, we applied computer simulation and performed a more detailed evaluation of the fluid kinetics in patients with different ultrafiltration (UF) capacity. Patients who used three to four exchanges of 2.27% glucose dialysate per day (poor UF capacity group), and patients who used three to four exchanges of 1.36% glucose dialysate per day (good UF capacity group) to achieve adequate amount of peritoneal fluid removal were included in the present analysis. All included patients were asked to record appropriately their dialysis exchanges for the assessment of their peritoneal fluid transport characteristics. Seventeen continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients were selected in the present study, nine in poor UF capacity group and eight in good UF capacity group. Patients in poor UF capacity group had significantly higher daily glucose exposure, higher dialysate-to-plasma ratio of creatinine (D/P creatinine) values, and higher peritoneal fluid absorption rate, K _e, as compared to patients with good UF capacity. Our results suggest that patients with poor UF capacity have significant higher peritoneal small solute transport rate, and more importantly, higher peritoneal fluid absorption rate as compared to patients with good UF capacity.     

Congestive cardiomyopathy in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

We present a report of cardiac dilatation and symptomatic congestive heart failure in two patients receiving treatment with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Both patients had previous partial parathyroidectomies and persistent hypocalcemia prior to the development of a congestive cardiomyopathy. The hypocalcemia was unresponsive to treatment with activated vitamin D therapy; however, intravenous replenishment of the ionized serum calcium level was accompanied by improvement in cardiac functional parameters. In one of the two patients, chronic calcium repletion with high dialysate calcium was associated with significant improvement in cardiac symptoms and a decrease in left ventricular dilatation. These observations suggest that partial parathyroidectomy and associated hypocalcemia place patients on CAPD at increased risk of cardiac dysfunction.     

Dyspepsia in Turkish patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Background and aims Although dyspepsia is very common in uremic patients, there is not much data on the prevalence of dyspepsia undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The aims of this study are to assess the prevalence of dyspepsia, Helicobacter pylori, and the association between dyspeptic symptoms and diabetes. Methods One hundred and thirty CAPD patients were included in the study. The presence or absence of dyspepsia was assessed by using the Hong Kong Index of Dyspepsia (HKID) Questionnaire. A score of ≥16 indicates the presence of dyspepsia. The patients who were diagnosed with dyspepsia had endoscopic examination and were judged to be infected with H. pylori if the organism was demonstrated in the biopsy. Results Sixty-four of 130 CAPD patients (49.2%) had a HKID score of 16 or more. H. pylori was identified in 17 of 64 CAPD patients with dyspepsia (26.6%). Thirty-four patients (25.8%) were diabetic, and there was no association between diabetes and dyspepsia (P = 0.68). The most frequent finding in patients with dyspepsia was gastritis or gastric ulcer in endoscopic evaluation. The mean serum albumin level was also not statistically significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions Dyspepsia is common and the prevalence of H. pylori infection is 26.6% in our CAPD patients with dyspepsia. Dyspepsia is not associated with the presence of H. pylori and diabetes in CAPD patients. Large-scale studies are needed to elucidate dyspepsia related risk factors and physiopathological mechanisms.     

Tuberculous lymphadenitis in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

The aim of this study was to review the clinical features of tuberculous (TB) lymphadenitis in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Nine cases of TB lymphadenitis were diagnosed among 910 patients over a period of 10 years. There were five men and four women with a mean age of 51 ± 15.5 years. The TB lymphadenitis involved the cervical lymph nodes in six patients, supraclavicular lymph nodes in two patients and mediastinal lymph nodes in one patient. Six patients presented with clinically enlarged lymph nodes of whom four also had fever. Three other patients were incidentally found to have enlarged lymph nodes on routine chest X-ray or ultrasound examination of the neck. Diagnosis of TB lymphadenitis was made by demonstrating caseating granulomata with or without positive acid-fast bacilli on excisional lymph node biopsy. All patients were cured with standard anti-tuberculosis drugs for 12 months. No recurrence of the TB lymphadenitis was observed after a mean follow-up of 59 ± 30 months. We conclude that TB lymphadenitis is not uncommon among patients on CAPD. A high index of suspicion is needed for early diagnosis of this condition. Prompt initiation of anti-tuberculosis treatment is associated with good prognosis.     

Ofloxacin pharmacokinetics in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Pharmacokinetics of ofloxacin (OFX) was studied in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) carrying out three exchanges per day. In 11 patients given 300 mg of OFX orally, serum OFX concentration peaked at 2.44 mg/l 3.7 hours after administration and the mean elimination half-life of OFX was 25 hours. OFX concentrations in peritoneal fluid underwent cyclical changes with each change of solutions, reaching beyond 0.5 mg/l after 2 hours of equilibration. There was a highly significant correlation between corresponding serum and peritoneal fluid concentrations of OFX after an 8 h equilibration (r = 0.85, p less than 0.001). In 5 patients given a 400 mg loading dose followed by 200 mg of OFX per day for 7 days, trough serum OFX concentrations ranged from 1.35 to 7.00 mg/l and no adverse effects were noticed. CAPD per exchange removed less than 2% of the total dose of OFX given.     

Albumin homeostasis in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Albumin and protein removal rates were studied in 18 patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). In nine patients simultaneous studies of albumin distribution and turnover were performed. Total albumin loss was 4.23 +/- 1.42 g/1.73 m2/24 hr; total protein removed was 8.79 +/- 4.21 g/1.73 m2/24 hr. Although these values were well within the range for severe nephrosis, serum albumin concentration remained nearly normal, 3.7 +/- 0.5 g/dl. Plasma albumin mass, 120.0 +/- 25.2 g/1.73 m2, and total albumin mass, 249 +/- 29.1 g/1.73 m2, did not differ from those of the control group. Compared with the control group, patients had reduced albumin catabolism, 9.76 +/- 1.74 g/1.73 m2/24 hr versus 13.8 +/- 0.77 g/1.73 m2/24 hr (P less than 0.001). Within the patient group albumin synthesis increased with increased albumin loss. Serum albumin concentration correlated negatively with albumin losses (P less than 0.001). The CAPD patients maintained albumin homeostasis through decreased albumin catabolism and increased synthesis. All major albumin pools were maintained despite massive albumin loss.     

Lipoprotein abnormalities in hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

Lipid abnormalities are important variables in the development of vascular atherosclerotic lesions in ESRD patients while Lp(a) represents an independent risk factor. In order to evaluate lipid changes in HD and CAPD patients, serum cholesterol (TC), HDLc, LDLc, TG, apolipoproteins (AI,AII,B,E), Lp(a), and albumin levels were estimated in 109 ESRD dialyzed patients, 46 in HD and 63 in CAPD (mean duration 50 +/- 40 and 25 +/- 19 months, respectively), and 45 volunteers with high serum levels of C and TG, without renal insufficiency. Both HD and PD group revealed statistically significantly higher levels than controls for TC, TG, LDL-C, Apo-B,-E, while HDL-C levels were significantly lower. Except for the lower serum albumin levels in both dialyzed groups after six months lower ApoAI levels and higher ApoB levels were observed in HD and PD patients respectively. Lp(a) levels remained unchanged in HD group, while a statistically significant increase appeared in PD patients that was negative correlated with the decreased serum albumin levels. These results indicate that renal replacement modalities result in a different effect in lipoprotein metabolism that may play an important role in atherosclerotic vascular disease of dialyzed ESRD patients.     

Exit-site and tunnel infections in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

One hundred two exit-site infections (ESI) were diagnosed in 63 of 163 (38.6%) patients, with an incidence of one episode every 23.7 patient-months in patients with a history of ESI, whereas in the overall continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) population the incidence was one episode every 48.7 patient-months. In diminishing order of frequency, the bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. The probability of remaining free of ESI was 72% at 1 year and 45% at 5 years. The ESI that led to catheter removal were due to S aureus and gram-negative rods. In 13 (48%) of 27 S aureus ESI unresponsive to antibiotics and local care, deroofing and outer cuff shaving completely resolved the ESI. Despite this treatment, the catheters of the remaining 14 patients had to be removed because of peritonitis associated with the tunnel infection. In conclusion, ESI is a major cause of CAPD failure. In our series, shaving the cuff as a rescue treatment was effective for almost 50% of the patients with antibiotic-resistant S aureus ESI.     

Evaluation of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

This study was undertaken to ascertain whether 19 patients maintained on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for at least 1 year experienced any deterioration in peritoneal membrane function. Selected serum chemistries and skinfold measurements were also evaluated to determine whether patients dialyzed by CAPD could maintain a normal nutritional status. This study demonstrates that patients maintained on CAPD had stable dialysate protein losses, glucose absorption from the dialysate, and constant urea, creatinine, and sodium removal. When these patients were subdivided by incidence of peritonitis, the group with a lower incidence of peritonitis (one episode every 349 +/- 155 SEM days) showed stable serum protein concentration and improvement in upper arm area whereas the group with a high incidence of peritonitis (one episode every 95 +/- 7 SEM days) showed a reduction in upper arm muscle area. Thus, our data suggest that over a 1-year period, there is no deterioration in peritoneal membrane characteristics and CAPD is effective in maintaining the nutritional status of the patient. However, both membrane function and nutritional status may be impaired by frequent episodes of infection.     

Emergency laparotomy in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Peritonitis is the most common complication of chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). It is often a diagnostic challenge to differentiate those patients with CAPD-associated infections from those who have unrelated gastrointestinal pathology as the cause of peritonitis and would benefit from surgical exploration. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients at a single institution who were on CAPD between the years 1990 and 1998 and who underwent laparotomy for peritonitis. Six patients underwent laparotomy. Four were male and two were female; ages ranged from 34 to 80 years. Perforated appendicitis was the cause of peritonitis in three patients, perforated diverticulitis was present in two, and one was without any suppurative intra-abdominal process. In each case CT scan of the abdomen was nondiagnostic. There was a delay in diagnosis of 10 days (range 3-21 days) and an operative mortality of 16 per cent.     

Inguinal herniation in two patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

We report two cases of subacute inguinal swelling in uremic patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Computed tomography, scintigraphy demonstrated a mass in the right groin. Surgical repair of an inguinal hernia resulted in complete resolution of the inguinal swelling. Both patients could restart continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, without complication.     

Peritoneal tuberculosis in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic renal failure have an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). This occurs with much higher frequency within the first 12 months of initiating dialysis and is usually extrapulmonary in nature. Patients most at risk are those from susceptible ethnic groups, especially the Indian subcontinent. Peritoneal TB, otherwise relatively uncommon, has emerged as an important form of TB in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). METHODS: All cases of peritoneal TB occurring at our institution in patients undergoing CAPD over a 13 year period were identified and analysed. RESULTS: Eight cases were identified, of which seven were non-Caucasian. These patients' characteristics and outcomes are presented. All were undergoing CAPD and most developed TB within 12 months of initiating dialysis. All presented with fever, but symptoms and signs were indistinguishable from bacterial peritonitis. Six were culture-positive, mainly from peritoneal dialysis fluid, but only two cases proved smear-positive. All were treated with standard anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. Three went on to permanent haemodialysis as a result of peritonitis and three have died, one of these as a result of TB. CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneal TB, whilst otherwise relatively uncommon, is an important manifestation of TB in CAPD patients and usually develops soon after commencing dialysis. The reasons for this are unknown and require further research.