The course of peritoneal membrane transport in patients on long-term peritoneal dialysis: what is it affected by?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the course of peritoneal membrane transport in patients on long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) and to identify possible factors affecting its course. METHODS: This study included 101 patients on long-term PD. The median duration of PD was 106 (range, 80-189) months. All patients had least 2 peritoneal equilibration tests (PET). The patients were divided to 3 groups according to the change between the peritoneal transport types at the first PET and the last PET. In the first group, peritoneal transport type stayed stable. It tended to increase in second group whereas there was a trend toward to decrease in the third group. RESULTS: Mean dialysate/plasma creatinine was significantly increased with time. It was 0.64 +/- 0.1 and 0.74 +/- 0.1 at the first and the last PET, respectively (P<0.001). Number of patients in low and low-average groups was significantly decreased whereas number of patients in high average and high groups was significantly increased with time (P<0.001). There was significant difference among 3 groups with regard to glucose exposure (P=0.018). It was significantly higher in second group compared to other two groups. There was no significant difference among 3 groups with regard to other demographic, clinical, and biochemical parameters (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Peritoneal membrane permeability was increased in patients on long-term PD with time and the increase in the permeability was affected by glucose exposure.