Changes in Peritoneal Equilibration Test Values during Long-Term Peritoneal Dialysis in Peritonitis-Free Children

Abstract

Little is known about the changes in peritoneal equilibration test (PET) values in children on long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). In the present study, a PET was carried out every 6 months in 39 children (mean age 8.8 ± 5.5 years) undergoing PD for 6 to 85 months (mean 36.9 ± 23.1 months). Patients experiencing peritonitis were excluded. Both D/P creatinine (dialysate-to-plasma ratio of creatinine at 4 hours) and D/D₀ glucose (ratio of dialysate glucose at 4 hours’ dwell time to dialysis glucose at 0 dwell time) were measured 195 times in this series of patients. No remarkable change was found for D/P creatinine or D/D₀ glucose during the first 24 months of PD but thereafter, D/P creatinine increased gradually and D/D₀ glucose decreased gradually. Mean D/P creatinine increased significantly after the first 24 months of PD: from 0.66 ± 0.12 during the first 24 months, to 0.70 ± 0.09 after 25 months and more of PD (p = 0.0051). Mean D/D₀ glucose decreased significantly after 24 months of PD: from 0.42 ± 0.09 during the first 24 months, to 0.38 ± 0.08 after 25 months and more of PD (p = 0.0015). The most significant change for both D/P creatinine and D/D₀ glucose occurred after 24 months of PD. It seems reasonable to consider the mean PET values at 24 months of PD as the standard PET values.