Effect of peritoneal dialysis solution type on serum lipid levels in end-stage renal disease

Among the different cardiovascular risk factors, lipid abnormalities dominate the high mortality in chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients. So far, no data comparing the effect of standard glucose-containing, amino acid-containing, and icodextrin-containing peritoneal dialysis solutions on serum lipid concentrations in a chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis population are available. To determine the effect of peritoneal dialysis solutions on parameters of lipid metabolism, 67 subjects who had continued their usual dialysis for the last six months were enrolled in the study. Group A consisted of 18 patients who were receiving only glucose-based peritoneal dialysis solutions, group B consisted of 18 patients who were receiving glucose and amino acid-based peritoneal dialysis solutions, and group C consisted of 31 patients who were receiving glucose and icodextrin-based peritoneal dialysis solutions. Serum lipid parameters including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and lipoprotein (a) were determined in all groups. No significant difference in serum lipid parameters was found between groups A, B, and C. These results demonstrate the lack of the effect of amino acid or icodextrin-based peritoneal solutions on dyslipidemia of CAPD patients.     

Peritoneal clearance of homocysteine with icodextrin or standard glucose solution exchange

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess plasma homocysteine concentration in peritoneal dialysis patients, and to compare the effect of different peritoneal solutions (glucose-based and icodextrin-based) on peritoneal clearance of homocysteine. METHODS: The study group comprised 10 chronic peritoneal dialysis patients; the control group comprised 15 healthy, age-matched non-obese subjects with normal renal function. Patients with vitamin B(12) or folate deficiency were excluded. In all subjects, plasma homocysteine and dialysis adequacy parameters were assessed at baseline. The clearance study was carried out with 2.27% glucose and 7.5% icodextrin solutions (12-h dwell time). RESULTS: Mean dialysate concentration of homocysteine was similar for both glucose and icodextrin solutions (8.3 +/- 3.2 and 8.4 +/- 1.9 micromol/L, respectively), but homocysteine clearance was significantly higher for icodextrin than glucose solution (1.82 +/- 0.57 vs 1.39 +/- 0.53 mL/min per 1.73 m(2)P = 0.01). Net ultrafiltration after icodextrin solution was also higher than after glucose solution (599 +/- 136 mL vs 134 +/- 337 mL, P < 0.01). A correlation between total plasma level of homocysteine and its peritoneal clearance was found (r = 0.69; P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: It appears that peritoneal elimination of homocysteine depends primarily on its plasma concentration. Icodextrin-based solution for peritoneal dialysis seems to be more efficient in homocysteine elimination than a standard glucose-based solution.     

Effect of treatment with simvastatin on serum cholestryl ester transfer in patients on dialysis

Background. Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer activity is increased in patients with chronic renal failure on dialysis who have elevated levels of apolipoprotein B (apoB)-containing lipoproteins. Simvastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitor, reduces levels of these lipoproteins but the effect of treatment on cholesteryl ester transfer activity in patients on dialysis remains to be determined. Methods. We measured serum newly synthesized cholesteryl ester transfer (NCET) activity, lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity and serum lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein concentrations before and immediately after 6 months of treatment with simvastatin (10 mg daily, n=24) or placebo (n=29) in 53 patients with chronic renal failure receiving haemodialysis or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Results. Simvastatin therapy significantly reduced serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apoB concentrations, and both NCET (P=0.001) and LCAT (P=0.012) rates. The decrease in NCET activity was correlated significantly with the corresponding decrease in apoB concentration (r=0.715, P <0.001) during simvastatin therapy and was no longer significant when apoB concentration (P=0.14) or LCAT activity (P=0.07) were controlled. Conclusion. These data show that simvastatin therapy reduces serum NCET rates, and suggest that this may be linked to the concomitant decrease in levels of apoB-containing lipoproteins which are acceptors of transferred cholesteryl esters, and to the decrease in serum LCAT rates in patients with chronic renal failure with treatment.     

Effect of hyperglycemia on serum sodium concentration and tonicity in outpatients on chronic dialysis

When serum glucose concentration is nearly normal, serum sodium concentration and tonicity are usually normal in ambulatory outpatient diabetics on chronic hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. In hyperglycemia, patients on hemodialysis do not undergo osmotic diuresis and are able to nearly normalize their serum tonicity by increasing the intake of water. Patients on peritoneal dialysis differ from hemodialysis patients because of continued loss of water in the peritoneal dialysate and achieve only partial correction of tonicity by water consumption. The model currently used to predict changes in serum sodium concentration and in tonicity from hyperglycemia assumes no changes in external balance of body water or solute during development of hyperglycemia and, therefore, is not applicable in ambulatory dialysis patients with intact thirst mechanism, because of water retention. In ambulatory patients on chronic dialysis, clinical manifestations of hyperglycemia include thirst, water intake, and weight gain. Neurologic manifestations due to hypertonicity are usually absent.     

Glucose concentration in the dialysate does not contribute to lipid profiles in patients undergoing CAPD

The aim of this study was to investigate lipid profiles in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis (HD), continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), or no dialysis (nondialytic treatment group, NT), and to analyze the association between dyslipidemia in CAPD patients with glucose-containing dialysate dosages. Lipid profiles were determined in 64 NT patients, 62 HD patients, and 180 CAPD patients at a single time point. NT patients' samples were collected following hospitalization due to renal failure. HD and CAPD patients' samples were collected after 3 months of dialysis. The association between lipid profiles of 180 CAPD patients and glucose-containing dialysate was analyzed using Pearson methods; 76.56% of NT patients, 66.13% of HD patients, and 72.22% of CAPD patients had dyslipidemia. Compared with NT patients, CAPD patients had significantly altered levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, apolipoproein (Apo)-A1, and Apo-E (p < 0.05), but unchanged levels of low-density lipoprotein or Apo-B. There was no correlation between the three different concentrations of glucose in the dialysate with the lipid profile of CAPD patients. We concluded that patients on CAPD exhibit dyslipidemia, and that different concentrations of glucose in the dialysate do not affect lipid profiles in these patients.     

L-carnitine is an osmotic agent suitable for peritoneal dialysis

Excessive intraperitoneal absorption of glucose during peritoneal dialysis has both local cytotoxic and systemic metabolic effects. Here we evaluate peritoneal dialysis solutions containing L-carnitine, an osmotically active compound that induces fluid flow across the peritoneum. In rats, L-carnitine in the peritoneal cavity had a dose-dependent osmotic effect similar to glucose. Analogous ultrafiltration and small solute transport characteristics were found for dialysates containing 3.86% glucose, equimolar L-carnitine, or combinations of both osmotic agents in mice. About half of the ultrafiltration generated by L-carnitine reflected facilitated water transport by aquaporin-1 (AQP1) water channels of endothelial cells. Nocturnal exchanges with 1.5% glucose and 0.25% L-carnitine in four patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis were well tolerated and associated with higher net ultrafiltration than that achieved with 2.5% glucose solutions, despite the lower osmolarity of the carnitine-containing solution. Addition of L-carnitine to endothelial cells in culture increased the expression of AQP1, significantly improved viability, and prevented glucose-induced apoptosis. In a standard toxicity test, the addition of L-carnitine to peritoneal dialysis solution improved the viability of L929 fibroblasts. Thus, our studies support the use of L-carnitine as an alternative osmotic agent in peritoneal dialysis.     

Atherosclerosis Risk Is Higher in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients Than in Hemodialysis Patients

While it has been reported that myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular disease are more common in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients than in hemodialysis patients, some studies have not supported these results. The aim of this study was to compare CAPD and hemodialysis patients with regard to atherosclerotic changes and to assess which factors might be responsible for atherosclerosis in dialysis patients. Group 1 consisted of 65 CAPD patients, and Group 2 consisted of 109 hemodialysis patients who were age-, gender-, and duration-of-dialysis-matched with CAPD patients. We used ultrasonographic measurement of carotid artery intima media thickness to identify atherosclerosis. Known risk factors for atherosclerosis including hypertension, smoking, serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], albumin, intact parathormone, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein were determined in all patients. More atherosclerotic changes were seen in CAPD than in hemodialysis patients. Of all the atherosclerosis risk factors, only serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, and Lp(a) levels were significantly higher in patients on CAPD.     

Serum myoglobin in patients on intermittent and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Serum myoglobin levels were determined in patients maintained on chronic peritoneal dialysis. Eleven intermittent peritoneal dialysis patients had a mean serum myoglobin of 174 +/- 29 ng/ml. In 7 patients tested serially, there was no consistent change in serum myoglobin: the mean level was 154 +/- 36 ng/ml pre-dialysis and 170 +/- 20 ng/ml post-dialysis. Seventeen patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis had a mean serum myoglobin of 215 +/- 18 ng/ml. Two patients given oral carnitine supplements had a substantial decrease in their serum myoglobin levels. Patients on peritoneal dialysis, like those on hemodialysis, tend to have elevated serum myoglobin levels, and neither form of dialysis affects serum myoglobin concentration. This hypermyoglobinemia may be due to metabolic changes in muscle.     

Glycemic control in diabetic CAPD patients assessed by continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS)

INTRODUCTION: From 20% to 40% of all patients commencing dialysis are diabetic. The quality of glycemic control is an important determinant of outcome. The aims of this study were to investigate the use of the continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) to assess overall 24-hour glycemic control and the effects of both nonglucose containing and more biocompatible alternative peritoneal dialysis solutions in insulin-treated continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. METHODS: We studied 8 insulin treated diabetic CAPD patients. A CGMS probe was inserted [allowing automatic measurement of interstitial fluid (ISF) glucose every 5 minutes, for a 72-hour period]. The patients were then allowed home with CGMS monitoring to assess the effect on glycemic control of three differing peritoneal dialysis regimes. Phase 1 consisted of three exchanges of 1.36% glucose and one of 3.86% glucose, utilizing a lactate/bicarbonate buffer. Phase 2 was identical but used lactate-buffered fluid alone. Phase 3 utilized a minimally glycemic combination of one amino acid, one icodextrin, and two 1.36% glucose lactate/bicarbonate-containing exchanges. RESULTS: ISF glucose measured by CGMS correlated well with venous glucose measurements (r2 = 0.82, P < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant difference in the mean ISF glucose between all three phases (P < 0.0001). The variation in glycemic control was tighter during phase 3 [mean coefficient of variation (CV) 0.21 +/- 0.03]. CONCLUSION: CGMS appears to be a clinically useful tool to gain additional insights into the glycemic control of diabetic CAPD patients. More biocompatible and nonglucose-containing dialysis fluids seem to be associated with improvements in glycemic control in this group of patients.     

Sustained-release bezafibrate corrects lipid abnormalities in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

A study was undertaken in 24 Chinese patients on maintenance continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, using bezafibrate in its sustained-release form to correct lipid abnormalities. Six patients who received 400 mg/day developed severe muscle weakness with grossly elevated creatine phosphokinase activities within 3 weeks. The drug was discontinued and the symptoms disappeared. The remaining 18 patients received 400 mg/week for 8 weeks. There was a significant decrease in serum triglyceride (2.74 +/- 0.33 to 1.86 +/- 0.17 mmol/l at the 4th week and 1.65 +/- 0.4 mmol/l at the 8th week). Concomitantly, serum total cholesterol decreased. Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased significantly (from 1.18 +/- 0.082 to 1.36 +/- 0.060 mmol/l at the 4th week and 1.40 +/- 0.103 mmol/l at the 8th week). Post-heparin lipoprotein and hepatic lipases were measured by a substrate-specific method. The former increased significantly (p = 0.000) after bezafibrate treatment while the latter did not change. All parameters of lipid metabolism returned towards baseline 4 weeks after discontinuation of therapy. The drug was well tolerated at 400 mg/week and there was no significant rise in serum creatine phosphokinase.     

The effect of icodextrin and glucose-containing solutions on insulin resistance in CAPD patients

PURPOSE: Peritoneal dialysis patients have particular risks with respect to their lipid status and hyperinsulinemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between insulin resistance and the type of the peritoneal dialysis solution. MATERIALS: 41 randomly selected non-diabetic patient cohort who were already under treatment with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and 10 healthy controls participated in the study. 24 of the 41 patients were using 3 standard 1.36% glucose solutions during the day and 1 hypertonic solution with 2.27% glucose dwell during the night (glucose group: mean age 45.54 +/- 16.67 years and median CAPD duration 16.5 months). The remaining 17 patients were using 3 standard 1.36% glucose solutions during the day and 1 icodextrin dwell during the night for 8-10 hours (icodextrin group: mean age 47.47 +/- 13.15 years, median duration of icodextrin use 6 months (range 2-20 months), and median CAPD duration 30 months). Insulin resistance (IR) was calculated according to the homeostasis model assesment (HOMA) formula: HOMA-IR = fasting glucose (mmol/l) x fasting insulin (microU/1/22.5. The HOMA cutoff point for diagnosis of insulin resistance was established with receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The patients were called HOMA-IR(+) if their HOMA scores were higher than cutoff value. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between age, BMI, triglyceride, total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, iron and ferritin, alanine aminotransferase, fibrinogen, intact parathyroid hormone, magnesium, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels of the 2 groups. The mean glucose levels of the groups were not different but fasting insulin levels and HOMA scores of the icodextrin group were significantly lower than the glucose group (10.15 +/- 6.87 vs. 18.11 +/- 13.15, p = 0.028, and 2.28 +/- 1.67 vs. 4.26 +/- 3.27, p = 0.027, respectively). The ratio of patients with low HOMA scores (cutoff = 2.511) were significantly higher in the icodextrin group than in the glucose group (71% vs 38%, p = 0.037). Other than fasting insulin and glucose levels, significantly positive correlation was found between HOMA score and BMI in both groups. With regression analysis, we found that the main parameters effecting HOMA score were BMI (p = 0.008) and triglyceride (p = 0.029) in the glucose group, but no parameters were found to affect HOMA score in icodextrin group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that insulin resistance is reduced in peritoneal dialysis patients using icodextrin-based dialysis fluid instead of glucose-based dialysis fluid.     

Beta 2-microglobulin levels in patients with renal insufficiency

beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of amyloidosis in long-term dialysis patients. beta 2M levels were measured in patients with chronic renal failure: before and after conventional hemodialysis in 30, before and after high-flux (HF) hemodialysis in 35, and during the first hemodialysis treatment in five patients, as well as in the serum and peritoneal fluid of 13 patients who were receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and in the serum and urine of three patients who had received kidney transplants. Dialysis patients had markedly elevated beta 2M levels; prehemodialysis values were not significantly different for patients receiving conventional v HF hemodialysis. Most of these patients were functionally anephric, and the beta 2M levels did not correlate with age, sex, or time on dialysis. In patients receiving conventional hemodialysis using cellulose acetate membrane, beta 2M levels increased 25.4% after hemodialysis, whereas in patients receiving HF hemodialysis using polysulfone membrane, beta 2M levels decreased significantly (43.0%) after hemodialysis. End-stage renal disease patients dialyzed for the first time had beta 2M values significantly lower than the other two groups because of residual glomerular filtration rate (GFR). CAPD patients also had lower values because they had an estimated loss of 80.4 mg/d of beta 2M in the dialysate fluid. In patients with chronic renal failure, beta 2M levels paralleled the increase in serum creatinine. Patients who received kidney transplants had a dramatic decrease in beta 2M levels that correlated with improvement in GFR. beta 2M correlated with the residual GFR, and its removal was membrane-dependent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

腹膜透析患者微炎症与营养状况及贫血的关系

目的探讨持续不卧床腹膜透析患者体内炎症因子与营养状况及贫血的关系。方法测定87例持续不卧床腹膜透析患者的血红蛋白、血肌酐、血白蛋白及超敏C反应蛋白表达水平,按超敏C反应蛋白〈5mg／L和超敏C反应蛋白≥5mg／L将患者分为两组,并选择20例同龄健康人作为对照。同时进行改良主观综合营养评估,分析两组患者炎症指标与贫血及营养指标的变化的关系。结果持续不卧床腹膜透析患者微炎症发生率为45．97％,超敏C反应蛋白升高组患者血白蛋白、前白蛋白、血红蛋白水平明显低于超敏C反应蛋白正常组;促红细胞生成素每周用量及改良主观综合营养评估评分明显高于超敏C反应蛋白正常组,差异有统计学意义。超敏C反应蛋白水平与血白蛋白、前白蛋白、血红蛋白及血肌酐水平呈负相关（P〈0．05）,与改良主观综合营养评估评分呈正相关（P〈0．05）。结论持续不卧床腹膜透析患者存在微炎症状态。微炎症状态在持续不卧床腹膜透析患者营养不良及贫血中起重要作用。     

Vitamins and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)

The authors assessed vitamin A, and its protein carriers vitamins C and E in serum and dialysis fluid of 10 patients with chronic renal failure during 6–12 months of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.Vitamin A and its protein carriers and serum vitamin E were elevated throughout the long-term investigation of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis despite the fact that vitamin A and its protein carriers have a relatively great peritoneal transfer and loss into the dialysis fluid. The oral dose of 200 mg of vitamin C per day, despite the great peritoneal transfer and loss into the dialysis fluid, prevented the development of hypovitaminosis C. Assessment of vitamins B₁, B₂ and B₆ revealed that the supplementation with these vitamins is adequate for patients during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.     

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??Curative effect evaluation of 21 abdominal hernia patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis undergoing tension-free hernia repair surgery without terminating peritoneal dialysis ZHAO Jian-xin??GAO Guo-xuan??LIU Yin-hua. Breast Disease Center??Peking University First Hospital??Beijing 100034??China
Corresponding author??ZHAO Jian-xin??E-mail??zjxcn@aliyun.com
Abstract Objective To investigate the curative effect of abdominal hernia patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis undergoing tension-free hernia repair surgery without terminating peritoneal dialysis. Methods A total of 21 abdominal hernia patients who received continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) because of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) from May 2007 to August 2012 in Peking University First Hospital were included in the retrospective analysis. The curative effects were followed up. All of the patients didn’t switch to hemodialysis (HD) and resumed peritoneal dialysis on the first day after operation form low dose and gradually resumed to the dose before operation in 4 weeks. Results All the patients were performed 22 cases of tension-free hernia repair and had no complication. The follow-up was 16 to 79 months and the median of follow-up was 40.3 months. The follow-up rate was 100% and there was no case of recurrence. Among them, 1 case transferred to hemodialysis 1 year after operation because of peritoneal adhesion and died of lung infection 2 years after operation. Another 1 case transferred to hemodialysis 2 year after operation because of peritoneal adhesion Conclusion It is safe for abdominal hernia patients who received CAPD undergoing tension-free hernia repair surgery without transferring peritoneal dialysis to hematodialysis??and it won’t increase complications and recurrence rate after operations.     

Managing metabolic complications of peritoneal dialysis

AIMS: The purposes of this paper are: to report our experience employing a comprehensive, multifaceted treatment program to improve the metabolic disturbances of dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and weight gain observed in our peritoneal dialysis patients, and by post-hoc analysis to demonstrate how the routine clinical lipid profile can be manipulated arithmetically to estimate levels of atherogenic low-density lipids and thereby achieve a more sophisticated clinical analysis of dyslipidemia and its response to therapy. METHODS: Data are reported for 56 patients who were stable on peritoneal dialysis for at least 6 months and who had metabolic data available prior to beginning peritoneal dialysis. Metabolic complications of peritoneal dialysis were treated by a comprehensive strategy involving diet, glycemic control and lipid-lowering medications with an emphasis on weight control and exercise. From the measured lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride (TG)), levels of atherogenic low-density lipids (low-density lipoprotein (LDL), non-HDL, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and intermediate-low-density lipoprotein (IDL) were calculated. RESULTS: Before initiation of peritoneal dialysis therapy, the most common lipid abnormalities were low levels of HDL (59%) and elevated levels of triglyceride (41%) with infrequent elevations of total cholesterol (9%) and low-density lipoprotein (23%). After initiation of peritoneal dialysis therapy, all lipid levels, except HDL, increased significantly, and hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and obesity, singly or in combination, occurred in 84% of patients. With treatment, elevated lipid levels decreased significantly with reversal of the adverse cardiovascular risk profile of lipids that developed during peritoneal dialysis therapy, and HDL levels increased significantly. On peritoneal dialysis therapy, all diabetic patients required insulin, and glycemic control was achieved in most patients (79%). Excessive weight gain (10-24% body weight) occurred in 20% of peritoneal dialysis patients. Diabetic patients had a higher incidence of being overweight and obese. Post-hoc analysis revealed that levels of VLDL and IDL frequently were elevated both before (57-61%) and during (68-84%) peritoneal dialysis and that target levels of these atherogenic low-density lipoproteins infrequently (22-26%) were achieved. CONCLUSIONS: The metabolic complications of peritoneal dialysis are responsive to a comprehensive treatment strategy. Controlling weight gain on peritoneal dialysis therapy maybe a difficult challenge for some patients, particularly those who are diabetic. Patients with renal failure and on dialysis, especially peritoneal dialysis, frequently have elevated levels of the atherogenic lipoproteins fragments VLDL and IDL. Future clinical trials should focus on the efficacy and safety of aggressive therapy to achieve target levels of these atherogenic lipids.     

Beneficial effects of icodextrin on plasma level of adipocytokines in peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Leptin and adiponectin, well-recognized adipocytokines, are reported to contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of icodextrin-based dialysis solution on adipocytokine metabolism. METHODS: In 12 non-diabetic anuric patients on peritoneal dialysis, dialysis solution was changed from glucose-based dialysis solution to icodextrin-based dialysis solution for 6 months. Plasma levels of leptin, adiponectin, lipids (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride), insulin, blood glucose and insulin sensitivity index by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) were compared before and after the use of the icodextrin solution. RESULTS: Plasma leptin level was decreased from 15.6 (2.5-69.0) to 7.3 (2.9-45.9) ng/ml (P = 0.018) and plasma adiponectin level increased from 11.6 (6.2-19.6) to 17.6 (7.8-33.0) microg/ml (P = 0.002). A reduction in plasma insulin level from 33.1 (13.8-54.1) to 19.1 (5.8-37.3) muU/ml (P = 0.009) and HOMA-IR from 8.22 (3.68-15.09) to 5.15 (1.40-13.78) (P = 0.015) was observed. While plasma total cholesterol level remained similar, HDL-cholesterol level increased, from 36.0 (22-45) to 43.5 (30-69) mg/dl (P = 0.008) and the triglyceride level decreased, from 174.0 (140-250) to 116.5 (81-207) mg/dl (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Icodextrin-based dialysis solution improves abnormal adipocytokine metabolism, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance, which are known to be associated with atherosclerosis. These results suggest that the use of icodextrin-based dialysis solution might be useful in preventing atherosclerosis in PD patients. Long-term effects of icodextrin-based dialysis solution on the atherosclerosis in peritoneal dialysis patients should be tested.     

A double blind trial of dipyridamole in CAPD

Since we had previously shown that dipyridamole augmented inulin and glucose clearance during intermittent peritoneal dialysis we sought to extend our study to the patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. We carried out a double blind study in which patients received either 75 mg of active drug or placebo for a 2-week period. At the end of this period the mass transfer coefficients, between plasma and dialysate, were measured for selected solutes. We did not find any drug effect. The results of our first study together with the results of this study suggest that dipyridamole has no place in the chronic management of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.     

Icodextrine and insulin resistance in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

Insulin resistance is commonly observed in uremic patients. Glucose-based peritoneal dialysis solutions have long-term metabolic complications like hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. The purpose of this study was to examine the insulin resistance in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) with standard glucose and icodextrin containing solutions. The entire non diabetic CAPD patients of our center were studied: forty-four patients in all who were on CAPD treatment for 36.2 +/- 23.7 months. Twenty-seven of them (11 male and 16 female) with a mean age of 46 +/- 16 years were treated with standard glucose solutions (glucose group). The other 17 patients (10 male and 7 female) with a mean age of 49 +/- 16 years were treated with standard glucose solutions during the day and icodextrin dwell during the night, for a median of 12 +/- 6.3 months (icodextrin group). Morning fasting serum insulin levels were 20.59 +/- 17.86 in the glucose group and 10.15 +/- 6.87 in the icodextrin group (p = 0.0001). Homeostasis Model Assessment Method scores of the glucose group were significantly higher (4.8+/-4.1 vs 2.3+/- 1.7; p = 0.025) than the icodextrin group. A significant positive correlation of HOMA score with insulin, fasting plasma glucose, and triglyceride levels were found in HOMA (IR+) patients. Twenty patients of the icodextrin group (74%) and 15 patients of the glucose group (88%) were hypertensive, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.13). The groups showed no significant differences for body mass index and serum levels of glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and fibrinogen. In conclusion, the use of icodextrin in the long nighttime dwell can reduce serum insulin levels and increase insulin sensitivity in CAPD patients.     

Pseudomonas peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: a six-year study

In a population of 214 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), 415 peritoneal infections occurred between 1980 and 1986. Fourteen of these infectious events were caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.4%). None of those patients with P aeruginosa peritonitis were cured by medical therapy alone. Peritoneal catheter removal was necessary to achieve resolution of the infection. Significant patient morbidity from Pseudomonas infection included loss of peritoneal space for further dialysis and abscess formation. Our data suggests that prompt catheter removal should be seriously considered for chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients who develop P aeruginosa peritonitis.