Peritoneal ultrafiltration in end-stage chronic heart failure

Background. Cardiorenal syndrome type 2 (CRS-2) is common in end-stage chronic heart failure (CHF). Peritoneal ultrafiltration (pUF) may entail clinical functional improvement and a reduction in hospitalizations. Methods. Thirty-nine consecutive end-stage CHF patients with stable CRS-2 were initiated on ambulatory pUF after interdisciplinary cardiological/nephrological evaluation and prospectively followed for 1 year. All-cause hospitalization was the primary end point. Secondary end points included mortality, treatment alteration and change in weight, NYHA functional class or quality of life (QoL). Outcomes were compared both within the pUF cohort (365 prior to initiation) and with 39 matched CHF patients receiving standard medical treatment. Results. Compared with pretreatment, there was a trend to a reduction in 1-year hospitalization days in the pUF group (P = 0.07). One-year mortality was 33% in the pUF group and 23% in the matched control cohort. pUF was stopped in eight patients (18%) due to recurrent peritonitis (n = 3), insufficient ultrafiltration (n = 3) or cardiac recompensation (n = 1). Compared with standard medical treatment, pUF significantly improved volume overload (P < 0.05), NYHA functional class (P < 0.001) and mental health (P < 0.05). Moreover, hospitalization days for all causes as well as cardiovascular hospitalization days were significantly reduced during the interim periods in the pUF group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions. pUF is effective in improving the clinical condition of end-stage CHF patients suffering from CRS-2. Randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the effects of pUF on hospitalization and mortality in these patients.