Peter Juergensen

Pseudomonas Peritonitis Associated With Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis: A Six-Year Study

In a population of 214 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), 415 peritoneal infections occurred between 1980 and 1986. Fourteen of these infectious events were caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.4%). None of those patients with P aeruginosa peritonitis were cured by medical therapy alone. Peritoneal catheter removal was necessary to achieve resolution of the infection. Significant patient morbidity from Pseudomonas infection included loss of peritoneal space for further dialysis and abscess formation. Our data suggests that prompt catheter removal should be seriously considered for chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients who develop P aeruginosa peritonitis.

Outcome of polymicrobial peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

Polymicrobial peritonitis is a relatively uncommon, but potentially serious complication that develops in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Its cause and optimal management remain controversial. The authors reviewed the frequency and natural history of polymicrobial peritonitis in 432 CAPD patients. Of 1,405 episodes of peritonitis, 80 were polymicrobial (6%). Patients with polymicrobial peritonitis were similar to all CAPD patients in age, gender, race, and underlying renal disease. Diabetes mellitus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status, and clinically apparent gastrointestinal disease did not predisposes patients to polymicrobial peritonitis. Thirty days after the polymicrobial peritonitis, 64 patients remained on CAPD (80%), and at 180 days 48 patients continued CAPD. Prior exit-site infections were present in 12 patients (14%) with polymicrobial peritonitis. Only 22% of patients required catheter removal to treat the infection. We conclude that polymicrobial peritonitis accounts for 6% of the total episodes of peritonitis; diabetes, HIV infection, and underlying gastrointestinal disease are not more prevalent in patients with multiorganism infections. Most patients continue CAPD therapy at 30 and 180 days after the episode of polymicrobial peritonitis.

HEMOGLOBIN AND PLASMA VITAMIN C LEVELS IN PATIENTS ON PERITONEAL DIALYSIS

♦ Objective: To determine the contribution of vitamin C (Vit C) status in relation to hemoglobin (Hb) levels in patients on long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). ♦ Methods: 56 stable PD patients were evaluated in a cross-sectional survey. Plasma samples were collected for Vit C (analyzed by HPLC with electrochemical detection) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) determinations. Clinical records were reviewed for Hb, transferrin saturation (TSAT), ferritin, erythropoietin (EPO) dose, and other clinical parameters. Dietary Vit C intake was evaluated by patient survey and from patient records. Total Vit C removed during PD treatment was measured in 24-hour dialysate collections. ♦ Results: Patients showed a highly skewed distribution of plasma Vit C levels, with 40% of patients below normal plasma Vit C levels (<30 μmol/L) and 9% at higher than normal levels (>80 μmol/L). Higher plasma Vit C levels were associated with higher Hb levels (Pearson r = 0.33, p < 0.004). No direct connection between Vit C levels and reported dietary intake could be established. In stepwise multiple regression, plasma Vit C remained significantly associated with Hb (p = 0.017) but there was no significant association with other variables (dialysis vintage, age, ferritin, TSAT, hs-CRP, residual renal function, and EPO dose). In 9 patients that were evaluated for Vit C in dialysate, plasma Vit C was positively associated (Spearman r = 0.85, p = 0.01) with the amount of Vit C removed during dialysis treatment. ♦ Conclusions: These data indicate that plasma Vit C is positively associated with higher Hb level. Vit C status could play a major role in helping PD patients to utilize iron for erythropoiesis and achieve a better Hb response during anemia management.

The impact of various cycling regimens on phosphorus removal in chronic peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background The National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative clinical practice guidelines have suggested that serum phosphate levels be maintained at ≤ 5.5 mg/dL in patients maintained on dialysis. Over 45% of anuric patients maintained on CAPD have serum phosphate levels > 5.5 mg/dL. The present study was designed to address the question whether phosphate removal could be enhanced by increasing the dialysate volume during cycler peritoneal dialysis therapy. Methods Medically stable patients maintained on chronic peritoneal dialysis therapy, who were high or high-average transporters and had serum phosphate levels ≥ 5.5 mg/dL, were invited to participate in the study. The protocol involved measuring phosphate and creatinine clearances at weekly intervals on three different cycler prescriptions consisting of 7 and 12 full cycles or 24 cycles with 50% tidal PD (TPD) over 9 hours. Ten patients agreed to participate. Those patients (n=7) with a BMI > 22 had 2 liter (L) fill volumes and 14 L of total dialysate (7 cycles of 2 L) or 24 L total dialysate (12 cycles of 2 L or 50% TPD with 24 cycles). The patients (n=3) with a BMI & 20 had 1.2 L fill volumes and 8.4 L total dialysate (7 cycles) or 14.4 L total dialysate (12 cycles of 1.2 L or 50% TPD with 24 cycles). Results The mean age (± SD) of the study patients was 50.8 (± 9.3) years. There were 6 females, 6 Caucasians and 4 African-Americans. The mean weight of the patients was 71.5 (± 24.2) kg and mean height 1.65 (+ 7.6) meters. The mean BMI was 18.3 (± 1.27) in the < 20 BMI group and 30.3 (± 6.6) in the > 22 BMI group. The mean phosphate clearance (L/night/1.73m2) increased from 3.96 (± 1.16) with 7 cycles to 4.71 (+ 1.81) with 12 cycles and 4.51 (± 1.61) with 50% TPD. Creatinine clearance (L/night/1.73m2) was 4.74 (± 1.74) with 7 cycles, 6.06 (± 2.04) with 12 cycles and 5.61 (± 2.01) with TPD. Conclusion The present study indicates that there is a significant, 19% (P & 0.005) rise in phosphate clearance by increasing dialysate volume 71% from 7 cycles to 14 cycles compared to a 27% increase in creatinine clearance. With tidal PD, phosphate clearance increased by 12% (p=NS) and creatinine clearance increased 18 % (p, 0.02). This increase in phosphate clearance translates into & 50 mg net phosphate removal in 9 hours, assuming a serum phosphate of 6 mg/%. Thus, increasing dialysis cycles and volume results in only a minimal increase in net phosphate removal.

Abdominal abscesses complicating peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

Ten patients with end-stage renal disease maintained on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis therapy developed abdominal abscesses between 1982 and 1992. During this period, 537 patients cared for in our continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis unit developed 1,345 episodes of peritonitis. All abdominal abscesses were attributed to concomitant or antecedent peritonitis, suggesting that abscesses developed in 0.7% of peritonitis episodes. Abdominal pain, tenderness, fever, and nausea and vomiting were the most common presenting symptoms and signs. Radiographic findings that were helpful in establishing the diagnosis included abnormalities on computed tomography (CT) scanning, ultrasound, and Indium scanning. Seven patients developed intraperitoneal abscesses, two developed abdominal wall abscesses, and one developed both abdominal wall and intraperitoneal abscesses. Drainage of the abscesses was performed in all cases either surgically or percutaneously. Two patients died. The remaining eight patients have been maintained on hemodialysis therapy. The present data suggest that abdominal abscesses are uncommon complications of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis. Prompt diagnosis by clinical criteria and radiographic techniques is important to permit appropriate drainage of the abscess cavity.

Phosphate balance in peritoneal dialysis patients: role of ultrafiltration.

Current National Kidney Foundations Disease Outcome Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) clinical practice guidelines for bone metabolism and disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD) recommend maintenance of serum phosphorus levels below 5.5 mg/dl. About 40% of patients maintained on chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) have phosphate levels above 5.5 mg%. The present study was designed to examine the relative contribution of ultrafiltration to phosphate removal in CPD patients. 24-hour dialysate collections were obtained in 28 CPD patients and the diffuse and ultrafiltration (UF) contributions to phosphate removal determined. 11% of phosphate removal was accounted for by UF. There was a highly significant correlation between UF rate and the % of phosphate removed by UF. The results of this study underscore the importance of individualizing the peritoneal dialysis prescription.

We Use Bioincompatible Peritoneal Dialysis Solutions.

Despite advances in peritoneal dialysis (PD) technique and therapy over the last 40 years, PD therapy for end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) in the United States remains underutilized. One of the major factors contributing to this underutilization involves concerns about technique failure. More physiologic PD solutions, with a lower concentration of glucose degradation products and a neutral pH, exist and are readily available in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Several benefits of these biocompatible solutions exist over the conventional solutions including a slower decline in residual renal function and better maintenance of urine volumes. There may also be a beneficial effect of the biocompatible solutions in limiting the increase in peritoneal transport that is characteristic of patients maintained on conventional solutions. It should be of concern to the US nephrology community that biocompatible PD solutions are unavailable in the United States.