Changes in peritoneal membrane with different peritoneal dialysis solutions: Is there a difference?

Background/PurposeThe peritoneal membrane of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is characterized by morphological and microvascular changes. It is said that lactate-based peritoneal dialysate is implicated in the development of these changes. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of long-term exposure to glucose-based, lactate-buffered (Dianeal), and biocompatible bicarbonate/lactate-buffered, low glucose degradation product (Physioneal) peritoneal solutions on the peritoneal membrane.MethodsThirty-nine incident PD patients were randomized into two groups: 19 patients with Dianeal dialysate (Group A) and 20 with biocompatible Physioneal dialysate (Group B). All patients used automated PD for a median of 31 months in Group A and 32 months in Group B. Three biopsies at one occasion only were taken from the peritoneal membrane at the end of the study. All samples were collected and fixed in accordance with a standardized protocol, and a histopathologist blinded to the clinical status and PD solutions allocated to the patients carried out the analysis.ResultsThe commonest change observed was peritoneal fibrosis, seen in 35 out of 39 cases (89.7%); it was moderate to severe in 28 cases (71.8%) and mild in 11 (28.2%) cases. This was followed by loss of mesothelial cells (22 cases, 56.4%), elastosis (20 cases, 51.3%), increased blood vessels (15 cases, 38.5%), thick-walled blood vessels (10 cases, 25.6%), and finally chronic inflammation and mesothelial cell hyperplasia (7 cases, 17.9%, and 6 cases, 15.4%, respectively). Of the patients with blood vessel abnormalities, 22 (88.0%) exhibited significant fibrosis and only three (12.0%) did not. Of those without blood vessel changes, only six (42.9%) patients exhibited similar degree of fibrosis (p < 0.01). The prevalence of vascular changes, moderate to severe fibrosis, as well as mesothelial cell abnormalities increased as the duration of PD increased. The prevalence of fibrosis, mesothelial cell loss, and vascular abnormalities increased significantly with diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001).ConclusionThere was no difference in the effects of long-term exposure to glucose-based, lactate-buffered, and biocompatible bicarbonate/lactate-buffered, low glucose degradation product peritoneal solutions on the peritoneal membrane. Risk factors other than PD dialysate composition need to be considered when assessing peritoneal membrane adequacy. The factors that were proved to be significant in our study are duration of end-stage renal disease, diabetes mellitus, and time on PD.背景 / 目的在接受長期腹膜透析 (PD) 的病人間，腹膜會出現若干的形態學與微血管變化，這些變化被認為與採用乳酸鹽腹膜透析液有關。本研究旨在比較兩種透析液的長期暴露—乳酸鹽緩衝之 Dianeal®、與生物相容之 Physioneal® 對病人腹膜的影響。方法共 39 位剛開始接受 PD 的病人被分為兩組：19 人接受 Dianeal 透析液 (A 組)、20 人接受生物相容之 Physioneal 透析液 (B 組)，所有病人接受的均為自動化 PD (APD)。研究結束時，我們對病人腹膜進行了活組織檢驗。結果在 A 組及 B 組之間，間皮細胞消失分別發生於 52.6% 及 60.0% 的病人，間皮細胞增生則分別發生於 21.1% 及 15.0% 的病人 (p > 0.05)；嚴重間質纖維化分別發生於 42.1% 及 45.0% 的病人，中度間質纖維化則分別發生於 31.6% 及 25.0% 的病人 (p > 0.05)。在 A 組及 B 組的病人之間，彈性組織變性 (elastosis) 達到 “3+” 的比率分別為 15.8% 及 20.0%，達到 “2+” 的比率分別為 15.8% 及 15.0% (p > 0.05)；異常微血管增加則分別出現於 42.1% 及 35.0% 的病人 (p > 0.05)。在糖尿病患者之間、及接受 PD 較久的病人之間，腹膜病理性變化的比率均有所增加 (p < 0.001)。結論長期採用以上兩種腹膜透析液於 PD 病人中，並未導致不同的腹膜變化。然而，以下因素則可能導致不同的腹膜變化：末期腎病、糖尿病、及 PD 的持續時間。