peritonitis and longevity of technical survival on CAPD

In this study we investigated the long term results of intraperitoneal immunoglobulin (Ig) treatment in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialyses ( CAPD) patients with refractory or relapsing peritonitis. Sixteen CAPD patients ( 4 female, 12 male) with a mean age of 53 +/- 11 years (40-80), with a mean CAPD duration of 46.2 +/- 4.8 months (17-75) were included in the study. The patients included had a diagnosis of either refractory or relapsing peritonitis unresponsive to appropriate antibiotic therapy. 0.5 g of Ig was added to every exchange bag qid as an adjunctive therapy to the culture based antibiotherapy for 7 days. Intraperitoneal Ig treatment was found to be successful in treating peritonitis in all but one patient. Interestingly, following Ig treatment, long term peritonitis rate decreased significantly compared to the period before treatment ( before: 2.2 +/- 0.6 episodes/patient/year vs. after: 0.6 +/- 0.17 episodes/patient/year; P = 0.019). The mean CAPD duration after Ig treatment was 30.5 +/- 5.4 (4-64) months. Out of 16 patients, one patient who was unresponsive, had his catheter removed and was switched to hemodialysis, and four patients with preexisting ultrafiltration failure or inadequate dialysis problems were transferred to hemodialysis after successful treatment of their peritonitis, one patient was transplanted and 10 patients continued on CAPD. We conclude that low dose Ig treatment may be beneficial in the treatment of refractory or relapsing CAPD peritonitis possibly through restoring impaired host defense within peritoneal cavity. This therapy, by preventing further peritonitis attacks, may prolong survival on CAPD

The variability in ultrafiltration achieved with icodextrin, possibly explained.

BACKGROUND: A recent study by Jeloka et al. (Perit Dial Int 2006; 26:336-40) highlighted the high variability in maximum ultrafiltered volume (UF(max)) and the corresponding dwell time (t(max)) obtained using 7.5% icodextrin solution. We aimed to pinpoint the possible sources of this phenomenon by simulating the icodextrin ultrafiltration (UF) profiles according to the three-pore model of peritoneal transport. Method: The individual UF time courses observed in the study by Jeloka et al. (n = 29) were first characterized by linear and quadratic regression. We were then able to identify four main patterns. These were then adapted to UF profiles generated by the three-pore model by systematically altering the values of some model parameters, namely, the mass transfer area coefficient (MTAC or PS) for icodextrin/glucose, the peritoneal UF coefficient (LpS), the plasma colloid osmotic pressure gradient (DeltaPi), and the macromolecular clearance out of the peritoneal cavity (Cl(LF)). RESULTS: Modifications in the PS values caused only marginal variations in UF(max) and t(max), while more significant changes were produced by altering LpS and Cl(LF). However, far more evident was the importance of changes in DeltaPi. In fact, lowering DeltaPi to 14 mmHg caused a steady increase in UF with 10 - 14 hour dwells. On the contrary, the UF profiles became nearly "flat" when DeltaPi was increased to 30 mmHg. The parallel shifts induced by altering icodextrin metabolite concentrations did not markedly influence UF(max) or t(max). CONCLUSION: The UF pattern in icodextrin dwells seem to be mainly determined by the plasma colloid osmotic pressure, while only moderate changes can be seen with alterations in LpS and Cl(LF). The result is not completely unexpected considering that icodextrin acts by inducing a strong colloid osmotic gradient. A number of clinical studies would be needed, however, in order to prove this hypothesis

The rate, risk factors, and outcome of fungal peritonitis in CAPD patients: Experience in Turkey

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is an increasingly popular replacement therapy for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, peritonitis continues to be a frequent complication of CAPD. Pathogenic bacteria and a small number of fungi cause the majority of cases of peritonitis. In most series, about 2% – 10% of CAPD-related peritonitis episodes have a fungal etiology. About 80% – 90% of fungal peritonitis (FP) episodes are caused by yeasts of the Candida species, less frequently by a variety of other yeasts and filamentous fungi. Fungal peritonitis is often a major cause of treatment failure in patients on CAPD and carries high risk of morbidity and mortality. The risk factors that predispose to the development of FP and regimens for FP treatment are not clear. In an attempt to identify the rate and risk factors for FP, and to examine outcome in relation to treatment strategies, we reviewed our experience with FP in this multicenter study

What is the optimal dwell time for maximizing ultrafiltration with icodextrin exchange in automated peritoneal dialysis patients?

Background: Icodextrin is increasingly being used in automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) for the tong dwell exchange to maintain adequate ultrafiltration (UF). However, the UF reported in the literature varies with different dwelt times: from 200 to 500 mL with 12 - 15 hour dwells. In order to maximize UF, it is important to know the relationship between dwell time and UF when using icodextrin in APD patients. With this knowledge, decisions can be made with respect to dwelt period, and adjustments to the dialysis prescription can be made accordingly

Severe vitamin D deficiency in chronic renal failure patients on peritoneal dialysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) and to correlate the findings with various demographic and renal osteodystrophy markers. Method: This cross-sectional, multicenter study was carried out in 273 PD patients with a mean age of 61.7 +/- 10.9 years and mean duration of PD 3.3 +/- 2.2 years. It included 123 female and 150 male patients from 20 centers in Greece and Turkey, countries that are on the same latitude, namely, 36 - 42 degrees north. We measured 25(OH)D-3 and 1.25(OH)(2)D-3 levels and some other clinical and laboratory indices of bone mineral metabolism. Results: Of these 273 patients 92% (251 patients) had vitamin D deficiency i.e. serum 25(OH)D-3 levels less than 15 ng/ml, 119 (43.6%) had severe vitamin D deficiency i.e. serum 25(OH)D-3 levels, less than 5 ng/ml, 132 (48.4%) had moderate vitamin D deficiency i.e. serum 25(OH)D3 levels, 5 - 15 ng/ml, 12 (4.4%) vitamin D insufficiency i.e. serum 25(OH)D3 levels 15 - 30 ng/ml and only 10 (3.6%) had adequate vitamin D stores. We found no correlation between 25(OH)D-3 levels and PTH, serum albumin, bone alkaline phosphatase, P, and Ca x P. In multiple regression analyses, the independent predictors of 25(OH)D-3 were age, presence of diabetes (DM-CRF), levels of serum calcium and serum 1.25(OH)(2)D-3- Conclusion: We found a high prevalence (92%) of vitamin D deficiency in these 273 PD patients, nearly one half of whom had severe vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is more common in DM-CRF patients than in non-DM-CRF patients. Our findings suggest that these patients should be considered for vitamin D supplementation

The impact of diabetes mellitus on peritoneal dialysis: the Turkey Multicenter Clinic Study

Purpose: It is well established that diabetic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients have a higher mortality rate than the other PD population. This study was designed to determine the overall predictors of survival and compared mortality and morbidity between diabetic and non-diabetic Turkish PD patients. Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study with 915 PD patients [217 had diabetes mellitus (DM)]. Serum albumin, PTH, HbA1c, co-morbid diseases, dialysis adequacy (Kt/V), and peritoneal transport characteristics as well as peritonitis episodes and ultrafiltration failure during the follow-up period were recorded. Results: DM patients were older and had more co-morbidities than non-DM patients. Peritonitis rates were higher in DM patients (one episode per 35.9 patient months) compared to non-DM patients (one episode per 41.5 patient months) (p<0.001). On Kaplan-Meier analysis, patient survival was significantly lower in DM patients with the 2-, 3- and 5-year patient survival rates of 90.8%, 87.8% and 78.2% in non-diabetics and 80.9%, 70.4% and 61.2% in diabetics, respectively. On Cox regression analysis, DM (HR 1.5, p = 0.022), age (HR 1.03, p<0.001), baseline serum albumin (HR 0.39, p<0.001), heart failure (HR 0.038, p = 0.038), peripheral artery disease (HR 1.83, p = 0.025) and amputation (HR 4.1, p = 0.009) at baseline were significant predictors of overall mortality. Conclusions: Patient survival is lower in diabetic compared to non-diabetic patients on PD. Peritonitis rates were also higher in diabetic PD patients. DM, older age, albumin level and cardiovascular co-morbidities are predictors of mortalit