Effect of PD solutions on patient outcome

With the recognition of the bio-incompatibility of conventional glucose based peritoneal dialysate (PDF), many new PDF has been developed and commercially available. All of them contain much less low glucose degradation product (GDP) solutions. Additional features are neutral or physiological pH, or glucose replaced by amino acid or glucose polymer icodextrin. These fluid has been shown to be more biocompatible in in-vitro and animal studies. There are short term randomized studies showing some benefit in certain clinical criteria, like increase in CA 125 in effluent PDF, better preservation of residual renal function, nutritional status, fluid and cardiovascular status, but beneficial effect on patient survival and long term peritoneal function has not been demonstrated apart from a non-randomized cohort study. To show such benefit on patient outcome, long term prospective randomized study is needed. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.