Proteinuria as a Risk Factor for Decline in Residual Renal Function in Non-Diabetic Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Abstract

Background: Preservation of residual renal function (RRF) is a major issue for patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Whether proteinuria is associated with a decline in RRF in patients on PD remains unclear. Patients and Methods: We reviewed the medical records at the Yeungnam University Hospital in Korea and identified patients who started PD between June 1995 and August 2011. A total of 147 non-diabetic patients were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into 3 groups with respect to the tertile of initial proteinuria level: Low (n = 49; <320 mg/day), Middle (n = 49; 320-822 mg/day), and High groups (n = 49; >822 mg/day). Results: The mean patient age was 50.2 ± 15.0 years in the Low tertile, 50.2 ± 15.4 years in the Middle tertile, and 49.0 ± 15.1 years in the High tertile. Decline in RRF during follow-up period was greater in the High tertile than that in the other tertiles (P = 0.001). The proportion of patients with RRF >50% of baseline at 24 months after the initiation of PD was 83% in the Low tertile, 66% in the Middle tertile, and 40% in the High tertile (P < 0.001). The multivariate analysis after adjusting for initial RRF, age, gender, underlying disease of end-stage renal disease except diabetes mellitus, PD modality, use of icodextrin, PD-associated peritonitis, and tertile of the initial proteinuria level revealed that High tertile of the initial proteinuria level was associated with a decline in RRF (hazard ratios: 2.442 for the Middle tertile, P = 0.007 ; 3.713 for the Low tertile, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that proteinuria may be is associated with a rapid decline in RRF in non-diabetic patients on PD, although the potential role of additional factors should be further investigated in prospective studies.