Abstract
A polymer of glucose was tested for use as an osmotically active agent in peritoneal dialysis. The osmotic effect of the polymer is more prolonged and more effective than that of glucose. Comparison of the relative caloric loads of the polymers compared to glucose awaits documentation of the rate of uptake of the polymer and its rate of metabolism to glucose.
Osmotically active agents are necessary in peritoneal dialysates in order to achieve ultrafiltration of plasma water into the dialysate. Osmotically active agents also increase the total clearance of solutes such as urea and creatinine both by solvent drag, or convective fluid movement (1), as well as by causing vasodilatation of the peritoneal vessels, increasing blood flow and perhaps increasing the dialysis surface area (2), and by increasing pefllleability (3). To be useful as an osmotic agent, a substance must be non-toxic, should be of sufficient molecular size to remain in the peritoneal space, and any of the agent which is taken up into the systemic circulation should be metabolizable.
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