Peritoneal Protein Loss in Patients with High Peritoneal Permeability: Comparison Between Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis and Daytime Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis

Abstract

Background Dialysate protein loss is involved in the etiology of hypoalbuminemia and malnutrition on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Patients with high peritoneal membrane permeability had the lowest serum albumin (Alb) and highest dialysate protein concentrations and achieved higher small solute dialysis/plasma equilibration in a shorter time than patients with low peritoneal transport. The aim of this prospective crossover study was to evaluate whether protein loss might be decreased in patients with high peritoneal permeability on short dwell-time (DT) peritoneal dialysis. Methods Five high and nine high-average peritoneal transport patients were subjected to the following sequential dialysis schemes (four exchanges/day, glucose 1.5%): scheme A, three daytime exchanges (4–6 h DT) and one nightly (8–12 h DT) for 2–3 days, scheme B, 3-h DT each and dry peritoneum at night during 5 days, a wash-out period similar to scheme A, and scheme C, 2-h DT each and dry peritoneum the remainder of day and night during 5 days. Dialysate Alb, IgG, IgA, and IgM losses and adequacy of dialysis were evaluated at the end of each scheme. Results Dialysate IgM was not detected. All protein losses were reduced with the short DT dialysis schemes; however, dialysis CCl and KT/V urea were also decreased. In patients with high peritoneal transport type, the 3-h DT dialysis scheme achieved a reduction in Alb loss without significant reduction of adequacy of dialysis. Conclusions Peritoneal Alb, IgG, and IgA losses are significantly reduced in patients with high peritoneal permeability on short dwell-time dialysis and extended dry periods. However, a reduction of dialysis contribution to small solute clearances was also observed, Three-hour dwell-time dialysis may be particularly useful in patients with high peritoneal transport type, as it tends to reduce peritoneal protein loss without notably reducing adequacy of dialysis.