Endocrine abnormalities in patients treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Endocrine-metabolic disturbances of renal failure have many underlying mechanisms, including abnormal secretion, transport, and target cell binding, impaired synthesis and elimination by the diseased kidney, and responses to stimuli resulting from altered homeostasis. Neither hemodialysis nor continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) removes large amounts of hormones. By correcting metabolic, fluid and electrolyte disturbances, dialysis may improve some endocrine abnormalities. Possibly because of more permeable membranes, or continuous treatment including ultrafiltration, CAPD has a somewhat more salutary effect on uremic endocrinopathy than hemodialysis. In particular, hormonal regulation of salt and water balance, erythropoietic function, female reproductive function, and some aspects of renal osteodystrophy respond more favorably to CAPD. The endocrine response suggests that there is no inferiority of CAPD as a treatment for renal failure.     

Neutrophil function in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Frequent and recurrent episodes of peritonitis are a major cause of morbidity in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). One factor contributing to this problem may be an abnormality of neutrophil function in these patients. We have therefore quantified phagocytosis and killing by circulating and peritoneal neutrophils from patients on CAPD with and without peritonitis. Circulating neutrophils from uninfected patients showed reduced phagocytosis of both Staphylococcus epidermidis and Candida guilliermondii because of an opsonic defect in CAPD serum and because of a defect of the neutrophils themselves. In contrast, phagocytosis by circulating and peritoneal neutrophils from patients with peritonitis was normal. Intracellular killing of C. guilliermondii was normal in all groups of neutrophils but killing of S. epidermidis, the organism most commonly isolated in CAPD peritonitis, was reduced. The possible mechanisms for the enhanced neutrophil activity seen in peritonitis, and for the decreased killing of S. epidermidis in contrast to normal killing of C. guilliermondii are discussed. A defect in killing of S. epidermidis may explain why peritonitis caused by this organism can be difficult to erradicate.     

Mucociliary clearance in patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

IntroductionMucociliary clearance (MC) is a critical defense mechanism for the protection of the entire respiratory system. Nasal colonization of some pathogens and chronical nasal infections are important risk factors for peritonitis. Any disturbance in the MC causes stasis of secretions and secondary infections.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate the patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in terms of nasal MC. More specifically, the goal is to investigate the possible correlation between the nasal MC and peritonitis.MethodsForty CAPD patients and 39 healthy volunteers were involved in the study. The nasal MC was evaluated with the saccharin test, in which a 1 mm diameter saccharin particle was carefully placed on the antero-medial surface of inferior nasal concha. The time taken by the subjects from the placement of particle to the perception of the sweet taste was taken as mucociliary clearance time (MCT). The groups were compared in terms of MCT. The patient group was evaluated in terms of a peritonitis history, and the correlations with MC were analyzed.ResultsPatient group with CKD consisted of 16 females and 24 males with a mean age of 32.4 years; healthy individuals in the control group consisted of 17 women and 22 men with a mean age of 33.3 years. There was not a significant difference in terms of mean MC time in patients with CKD when compared with the individuals in the control group. The comparison between the mean MCT in the patients who had a history of peritonitis and patients without peritonitis was statistically significant (p < 0.05).ConclusionsUnique for being conducted with patients in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, the current study shows that although the MC of CKD patients and healthy individuals is similar, patients with low rates of MC appear to present an increased incidence of peritoneal infection. Considering the small sample investigated, an invitation to future confirmatory studies would be appropriate.     

Diaphragmatic function in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

We investigated 8 patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for diaphragmatic strength and the neuromechanical efficiency of the diaphragm while the abdomen was filled with dialysate and while it was empty. Maximum transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi_max) served as parameter for diaphragmatic strength; diaphragmatic efficiency was assessed by simultaneously monitoring transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) and diaphragmatic electromyogram (EMGdi) during room-air breathing and hyperoxic CO₂-rebreathing. After instilling dialysate, Pdi_max increased from 76.7 ± 12.1 cmH₂O to 92.2 ± 16.3 cmH₂O (P < 0.05). While the slopes of the regression lines relating minute ventilation (VE) to arterial CO₂ tension, and the change in VE for a given change in Pdi during hypercapnic rebreathing were similar in both states, the slope of EMGdi vs Pdi was significantly steeper when the abdomen was filled (P < 0.05). The increase in Pdi_max observed in the filled state may suggest an adaptive rightward shift in the diaphragm's force-length relationship in CAPD patients, although this mechanism is insufficient to prevent a reduction of neuromechanical efficiency of the diaphragm. Offprint requests to: T. Wanke     

Characteristics of the hematocrit response to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Markedly heterogeneous increases in hematocrit readings were noted in a group of nine patients who previously had undergone hemodialysis, none of whom had polycystic disease. They had been receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for at least one year. There was no correlation between change in Hct reading and serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, or albumin levels. Respective contributions of blood transfusions and venipuncture were likewise negligible. The increase in Hct reading in several patients was gradual and still ongoing at one year of CAPD. Other patients, two of whom had a decrease in transfusion requirement with CAPD, had either no increase in Hct reading or a small increase that was not sustained. A return to hemodialysis (or, in one case, discontinuation of all dialysis with partial return of renal function) lowered Hct readings in patients who had initially responded to CAPD. The individual response in Hct reading to CAPD maintenance therapy is highly variable and is not predictable from clinically available measurements.     

Cryptococcosis complicating continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

We report a case of invasive cryptococcosis complicating continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and its successful treatment. This form of infection has not been previously described.     

腹膜透析和血液透析患者与正常人群体液状况的比较

目的　比较并分析持续性非卧床腹膜透析 (CAPD)及血液透析 (HD)患者的体液状况。方法　通过无创性方法 (Xitron 42 0 0生物电阻抗分析仪 )分别测定 45例CAPD患者、44例HD患者和 46例正常人的细胞外液 (ECW )、细胞内液 (ICW )和总体液量 (TBW ) ,用标准体重 (身高 -10 5 )进行标准化后比较。结果　CAPD组标准化细胞外液 (nECW )比HD透析前、HD透析后及对照组均高。HD透析前组nECW比对照组高 ,但透析后组与其比较无显著性差异。HD透析前与透析后组的标准化细胞内液 (nICW )没有显著变化 ,但是与CAPD组及对照组比较均有显著性差异 ;而CAPD组与对照组间比较 ,无显著性差异。在体液分布 (ECW /TBW )上 ,各组间比较均有显著性差异。CAPD组与HD组患者间干体重比较无显著性差异 ;CAPD组患者体重与干体重之差为 ( 2 .6± 2 .4)kg ,与HD透析前组比较差异无显著性 ,而与HD透析后组 [( 0 .3± 2 .5 )kg ]比较 ,有显著性差异。结论　慢性腹膜透析患者普遍存在比血液透析患者更严重的容量超负荷。而腹透患者体液过多的原因可能与其过多水分摄入有关     

慢性腹膜透析患者血脂改变

目的　了解连续性不卧床腹膜透析 (CAPD)患者血脂异常及动态改变。方法　对上海市 12家单位10 5例CAPD患者血脂水平进行横断面调查 ,并与 5 0例正常对照组进行比较分析 ,并前瞻性观察了CAPD对患者血脂的影响。结果　结果CAPD患者血TG、apoB和Lp(a)水平均显著高于正常 ,血HDL -ch、HDL2 、apoA1和LCAT均显著低于正常 ;CAPD治疗后 ,血Lp(a)、apoE、LDL -ch和apoB水平均显著升高。 结论　CAPD患者脂代谢紊乱相当常见 ,并随透析时间改变而变化     

Low dose adrenocorticotropin infusion in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

The adrenocorticoid responses to low doses of ACTH (0.03-10 ng/min) in sodium-deplete normal subjects and end-stage renal disease patients maintained on continuous ambulator peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) were compared. All subjects were pretreated with dexamethasone. ACTH was administered by graded iv infusions in doses of 0.03, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, and 10 ng ACTH/min. Each rate of infusion was maintained for 30 min. Plasma aldosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone, corticosterone, 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone, and cortisol were measured in plasma sampled at the end of each rate of infusion in both groups. Plasma 11-deoxycorticosterone was measured in CAPD patients. The plasma steroid levels in the CAPD patients after each infusion rate were equal to or greater than the levels in normal subjects. The slopes of the cumulative increases above baseline in plasma steroid levels in the CAPD patients were equal to or greater than those in the normal subjects. In both groups, plasma corticosterone increased the most and aldosterone the least. Kinetic analyses indicated that the adrenal responses to low dose ACTH were not linear. A distinct threshold for ACTH-stimulated increase in plasma adrenocorticoid levels, if present, is very low. The responses of plasma adrenocorticoids to low dose ACTH are normal in CAPD patients.     

Detective work in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

We report five cases of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in which the mechanisms and sources of infection were established. We show how diligent enquiry and environmental investigation can explain the pathogenesis of infection and help in prevention by motivation of the patient.     

Rhodotorula rubra peritonitis in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Although still uncommon, fungal peritonitis is being reported with increasing frequency in patients with renal failure who are undergoing long-term peritoneal dialysis. Although most cases have involved Candida albicans, other opportunistic pathogens have been reported as well. Recently, three patients were seen with serious peritoneal infections due to Rhodotorula rubra, a "nonpathogenic" fungus. In two patients, peritoneal fibrosis made further peritoneal dialysis impossible. The third patient died from complications of peritonitis. Environmental cultures revealed a possible common-source outbreak. Literature review reveals that infection due to this organism is most unusual and occurs only in the hospital setting in patients with serious compromise of host defenses.     

Peritonitis caused by Pseudomonas putrefaciens in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Three cases of peritonitis caused by Pseudomonas putrefaciens in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis are described. In two cases asymptomatic colonization of the dialysate preceded overt infection. All patients responded successfully to standard antibiotic therapy with gentamicin or ofloxacin. This is the first report of peritonitis caused by P. putrefaciens.