Peritoneal Dialysis International: Journal of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the preferred modality of renal replacement therapy in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In developing countries, the challenges of initiating and sustaining chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) are many and are not well-described in the literature.

This was a retrospective study of children aged 0–18 years on manual PD. The objective was to compare the clinical (growth) and dialysis outcomes (dialysis adequacy and peritonitis rates) in young children with low body weight (LBW; ≤15 kg) on CPD with children weighing >15 kg.

We found that at baseline, the dialysis prescription, sociodemographic parameters, and the prevalence of complications of ESRD were similar in both groups. On follow-up, however, growth was significantly more affected in LBW children than the rest of the cohort. The adequacy of dialysis and peritonitis rates were comparable between groups.

Despite all the challenges, manual CPD is a feasible modality of dialysis in young children with LBW, and their outcomes are comparable to older children even in low-to-middle-income countries. Appropriate early management of associated complications and improving dialysis adequacy are necessary to improve the outcomes in these children.

Recognition of the discrepancy between the research priorities of patients and health professionals has prompted efforts to involve patients as active contributors in research activities, including scientific conferences. However, there is limited evidence about the experience, challenges, and impacts of patient involvement to inform best practice. This study aims to describe patient and health professional perspectives on patient involvement at the Congress of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD).

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 patients/caregivers and 15 health professionals from six countries who attended ISPD. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, and transcripts were analyzed thematically.

We identified four themes: protecting and enhancing scientific learning (grounding science in stories, sharing and inspiring new perspectives, distilling the key messages of research presentations, striking a balance between accommodating patients and presenting the science); democratizing access to research (redistributing power, challenging the traditional ownership of knowledge, cultivating self-management through demystifying research); inadequate support for patient/caregiver delegates (lacking purposeful inclusion, challenges in interpreting research findings, soliciting medical advice, difficulty negotiating venue and program, limited financial assistance in attending); and amplifying impact beyond the room (sparking innovation in practice, giving patients and families hope for the future).

Patient involvement at the ISPD Congress clarified the applicability of research to patient care and self-management, democratized science, and strengthened the potential impact of research. More structured support for patients to help them purposefully articulate their experience in relation to session objectives may enhance their contribution and their own learning experience.

This study was to analyze the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of peritonitis in elderly continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.

Incident patients undergone CAPD from 1 January 2006 to 30 June 2015 in our center were enrolled and divided into aged < 65 years and ≥ 65 years groups. Risk factors were evaluated using a logistic regression model, and outcome comparison was evaluated using a Cox proportional model.

Among 1953 patients, 111(33.2%) in elderly (n = 334) and 470 (29.0%) in younger (n = 1619) developed at least one episode of peritonitis. Comparing with younger patients, elderly ones had a higher peritonitis rate (0.203 vs. 0.145 episodes/patient-year, p < 0.05). The multivariate Cox regression showed that advanced age (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01–1.11, p = 0.015), assistant-assisted peritoneal dialysis (PD; HR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.23–5.64, p = 0.012), higher body mass index (BMI; HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.02–1.20, p = 0.010), and low serum albumin level (HR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.90–0.98, p = 0.004) were associated with increased peritonitis risk in elderly patients. Compared with younger ones with peritonitis, elderly patients had an approximately fourfold increased risk of peritonitis-related mortality (odd ratio (OR) = 3.57, 95% CI = 1.38–9.28, p = 0.009). During the cohort, peritonitis was the risk factor associated with technique failure (HR = 3.19, 95% CI = 2.33–4.39, p < 0.001) in younger patient but not in the elderly population (HR = 1.82, 95% CI = 0.84–3.94, p = 0.132).

Elderly PD patients had higher prevalence for peritonitis and peritonitis-related mortality. Advanced age, assistant-assisted PD, a higher BMI, and lower serum albumin level were independently associated with the first episode of peritonitis in elderly patients. However, peritonitis was not the predictor of death-censored technique failure in elderly ones.

There is an increasing number of elderly patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) who could not perform dialysis exchange themselves and require assistance. We examine the outcome of Chinese CAPD patients who required helper-assisted dialysis and compare the outcome between different types of helper.

We reviewed 133 incident patients on helper-assisted CAPD and 266 incident patients who performed self-CAPD exchanges (self-peritoneal dialysis (PD) group). Outcome measures included patient survival, peritonitis-free survival, and overall peritonitis rate.

At 24 months, patient survival of the helper-assisted and self-PD groups were 56.0% and 80.6%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Within the helper-assisted group, patient survival at 24 months was 55.5%, 63.2%, and 27.2% for the patients with domestic helper, family member, and nursing home staff as their helpers, respectively (p = 0.037). Peritonitis-free survival of the helper-assisted and self-PD groups were 54.2% and 64.9%, respectively (p = 0.039). Within the helper-assisted group, peritonitis-free survival at 24 months was 59.4%, 55.4%, and 37.2% for the patients with domestic helper, family member, and nursing home staff as their helpers, respectively (p = 0.06). There was no significant difference in peritonitis rate between patients with domestic helper, family member, and nursing home staff as their helpers (0.54, 0.57, and 0.94 episodes per patient-year, respectively, p = 0.2).

Helper-assisted CAPD patients had worse patient survival and peritonitis-free survival than the self-PD group. Assistance by nursing home staff was associated with worse patients’ survival and peritonitis-free survival than assistance by family members or domestic maids.

Decreased appetite is a symptom often found in chronic kidney disease. Poor appetite may negatively affect food intake, what in long-term may contribute to the development of protein–energy malnutrition.

An Appetite and Food Satisfaction Questionnaire (AFSQ) was developed consisting of a question that assesses the level of appetite through a facial hedonic scale and five other questions adapted from the Buckner and Dwyer tool that assess some aspects related to food satisfaction. Each question received an arbitrary score of 0 to 3. The sum of the scores ranged from 0, the best, to 18, the worst condition. Nutritional status was assessed through seven-point SGA, bioelectrical impedance, anthropometry, and handgrip strength (HGS).

Eighty-four patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD; 58.3% women, mean age 54.7 ± 14.2 years, and body mass index (BMI) of 26.0 ± 4.8 kg/m²) were evaluated. Median AFSQ score was 4.0 (1.0–6.8; median and IQ). Patients were divided into tertiles according to the AFSQ score. Comparing the third tertile (score ≥ 6) with the first tertile (score < 2), the prevalence of malnutrition was greater (32.1% vs. 6.7%, respectively, p = 0.005), HGS adequacy was lower (74.6% vs. 87.3%, p = 0.001), and body cell mass index (5.7% vs. 7.4%, p = 0.001) and lean BMI were lower (11% vs. 13.4%, p = 0.001) in the third tertile.

Poor appetite and food satisfaction determined by the questionnaire was related to worse nutritional markers, indicating AFSQ as a valid easy-to-use tool to be applied as an initial screening to identify PD patients with potential risk of malnutrition.

The outcomes of culture-negative peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients have been reported to be superior to those of culture-positive peritonitis. The current study aimed to examine whether this observation also applied to different subtypes of culture-positive peritonitis.

This multicentre registry study included all episodes of peritonitis in adult PD patients in Australia between 2004 and 2014. The primary outcome was medical cure. Secondary outcomes were catheter removal, hemodialysis transfer, relapsing/recurrent peritonitis and peritonitis-related death. These outcomes were analyzed using mixed effects logistic regression.

Overall, 11,122 episodes of peritonitis occurring in 5367 patients were included. A total of 1760 (16%) episodes were culture-negative, of which 77% were medically cured. Compared with culture-negative peritonitis, the odds of medical cure were lower in peritonitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.52–0.73), Pseudomonas species (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.16–0.26), other gram-negative organisms (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.41–0.56), polymicrobial organisms (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.25–0.35), fungi (OR 0.02, 95% CI 0.01–0.03), and other organisms (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.49–0.76), while the odds were similar in other (non-staphylococcal) gram-positive organisms (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.97–1.28). Similar results were observed for catheter removal and hemodialysis transfer. Compared with culture-negative peritonitis, peritonitis-related mortality was significantly higher in culture-positive peritonitis except that due to other gram-positive organisms. There was no difference in the odds of relapsing/recurrent peritonitis between culture-negative and culture-positive peritonitis.

Culture-negative peritonitis had superior outcomes compared to culture-positive peritonitis except for non-staphylococcal gram-positive peritonitis.

Overall, a disproportionately small number of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients start peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the United States compared to hemodialysis. Little is known about whether gender has an effect on the initial modality of renal replacement therapy utilized by patients; however, prior studies have demonstrated gender disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of various other health conditions, including kidney disease.

Using data from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), we estimated the proportion of patients utilizing PD as their initial dialysis modality between 2000 and 2014, adjusting estimates to the mean value of all covariates and compared these estimates for women and men.

We found that 7.9% of women and 7.5% of men used PD as their initial dialysis modality. The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of women initiating PD as their initial modality compared to men was 1.04 (95% CI 1.02–1.05, p < 0.001). After adjustment for age, race, ethnicity, cause of ESRD, number of comorbidities, income, employment status, and timing of referral to nephrology, the difference was even more significant, with women being 12% (OR 1.12, CI 1.10–1.14, p < 0.001) more likely to initiate PD than men. However, within different subgroups, older women and women with higher number of comorbidities were less likely to be on PD than their male counterparts.

Our results indicate that gender plays a role in the initial dialysis modality used by patients and providers should be cognizant of these gender differences. Further studies are needed to ascertain the cause of this observed difference.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the first-line renal replacement therapy for end-stage renal failure patients in Hong Kong. Abdominal wall hernia is a common mechanical complication of PD, and early surgical repair has been advocated to reduce complications. This study aims to review the outcomes of tension-free mesh repair of inguinal hernia in PD patients.

All PD patients who underwent elective repair of inguinal hernia from 2009 to 2015 were identified from a single centre for retrospective analysis. Primary outcomes included surgical complications, perioperative dialysis technique and recurrence.

Twenty-one patients with a total of 26 inguinal hernia repairs were included in this 7-year retrospective study. All were males, and the mean age was 68 ± 10 years. Diabetic nephropathy (n = 9, 42.9%) and glomerulonephritis (n = 7, 33.3%) were the two most common causes of renal failure. All hernias were detected after the initiation of PD, and the mean duration of PD to hernia detection was 16 months (range 1–65 months). Lichtenstein open mesh repair was performed in all patients. Complications included seroma (n = 3, 11.5%) and ischaemic orchitis (n = 1, 3.8%). There were no mesh infection or recurrence. Twenty patients (95.2%) received intermittent peritoneal dialysis post-operatively and returned to continuous ambulatory PD in 15 to 30 days. Only one patient (4.8%) required bridging haemodialysis due to Tenckhoff catheter blockage.

Tension-free mesh repair is associated with low morbidity and low recurrence rates in PD patients. Timely management and close collaboration with renal physicians are essential to continue PD after repair.

Deposition of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is frequently found in the peritoneum of patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Angiogenesis is also observed in the peritoneum. However, the clinical significance of AGEs and angiogenesis in the peritoneum is not fully understood. We evaluated the maturation of capillary vessels and investigated whether AGEs are associated with angiogenesis and peritoneal function in the peritoneal membrane.

Peritoneum obtained when PD catheters were removed from 61 patients with PD was analyzed. The peritoneum was immunohistochemically stained with anti-CD34 (for endothelial cells), anti-alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) (for pericytes), and anti-AGE antibodies. We defined CD34-positive and αSMA-negative vessels as immature capillary vessels in peritoneal membranes using serial sections. We evaluated the associations between vessel density, peritoneal function (dialysate-to-plasma ratio for creatinine (D/P creatinine)), and the degree of AGE deposition.

AGE accumulation in the interstitium was positively associated with the duration of PD (p < 0.01). AGE accumulation in the interstitium and vascular wall was positively correlated with the use of acidic solution (p < 0.05) and the maximum value of D/P creatinine (p < 0.05). AGE accumulation in the vascular wall was significantly associated with immature capillary density (CD34+/αSMA−) in the peritoneum (p < 0.01). Vessel density was not significantly correlated with the last measurement of D/P creatinine (p = 0.126, r = 0.202), However, immature capillary density was positively correlated with the last measurement of D/P creatinine (p < 0.05, r = 0.278).

AGE accumulation is significantly associated with immature angiogenesis and peritoneal dysfunction in patients undergoing PD.

Steady concentration peritoneal dialysis (SCPD), which maintains transperitoneal osmotic gradient by infusing 50% glucose solution throughout the dwell time, has been proposed as a potent treatment for peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with fluid overload. However, SCPD has yet to be explored theoretically. Here, we investigated SCPD via computer simulations.

A model was developed by adding the variables for infusing 50% glucose solution to a traditional three-pore model for continuous ambulatory PD. The simulated scenarios involved the instillation of 2-L dialysate, 1.36% or 2.27%, followed by the infusion of 50% glucose solution, varying the rate from 0 mL/h to 90 mL/h. A dwell with 3.86% dialysate was also simulated for the purpose of comparison. Four sets of patient parameters corresponding to peritoneal transport categories were used.

The net ultrafiltration (UF) during SCPD increased with time as well as with glucose infusion rate. The glucose absorption and sodium removal of SCPD were slightly higher than those of the conventional dwell with 3.86% dialysate under the condition of the same net UF and dwell time. SCPD resulted in the larger UF and the lower peak intraperitoneal glucose concentration when it was simulated with the higher transport properties.

These simulations indicate that SCPD can improve UF beyond those achievable by a conventional 3.86% glucose exchange while also exhibiting a lower peak osmolarity in the dialysate as compared to a conventional 3.86% dwell. However, further studies are needed to confirm these theoretical findings.

International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis guidelines recommend to routinely monitor the total measured clearance (mCl) of small solutes such as creatinine; however, collection of 24-h urine and peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluid is burdensome to patients and prone to errors. We hypothesized that equations could be developed to estimate mCl (estimated clearance (eCl)) using endogenous filtration markers.

In the Guangzhou PD Study (n = 980), we developed eCl equations using linear regression in two-third and validated them in the remaining one-third. Reference tests were mCl for urea nitrogen (UN) (mCl_UN, ml/min) and average mCl for UN and creatinine (mCl_UN-cr, ml/min/1.73 m²). Index tests were various eCl equations using UN, creatinine, low-molecular-weight proteins (LMWPs) (beta-trace protein (BTP), beta-2 microglobulin (B2M), and cystatin C), demographic variables, and body size. After reexpression of the equations in the combined data set, we analyzed accuracy (eCl within ± 2.0 units of mCl) and the predictive value of eCl to detect a weekly total standard Kt/V (weekly mCl_UN indexed for total body water) > 1.7 using receiver operating characteristic curve.

Mean age of the cohort was 50 ± 15 years, 53% were male; mCl_UN was 6.9 ± 1.8 and mCl_UN-cr was 7.5 ± 2.8. Creatinine but not UN contributed to eCl for both mCl. LMWP did not improve accuracy for mCl_UN (range 88–89%). BTP and B2M improved the accuracy for mCl_UN-cr (82% vs. 80%); however, differences were small. The area under the curve for predicting a weekly Kt/V > 1.7 was similar for all equations (range 0.79–0.80).

Total small solute clearance can be estimated moderately well in continuous ambulatory PD patients using serum creatinine and demographic variables without urine and dialysate collection.