Fibrin turnover in plasma and peritoneal dialysis effluent of capd patients with and without peritonitis

Abstract

Fibrin deposition in the peritoneal cavity of patients with chronic renal failure on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) may result in adhesions and peritoneal fibrosis. We used a new fibrin specific monoclonal antibody for demonstrating different turnover of fibrin monomer and fibrin degradation products in plasma compared to dialysis effluent of CAPD patients. In all patients we measured higher levels of fibrin monomer (FM) in dialysate than in plasma, even higher in plasma and effluent of patients with peritonitis. Western blot showed only high molecular bands (310–340 KD) in plasma. In the dialysis effluent we found seven bands up to 100 KD indicating the presence of fibrin degradation products (FbDP).