Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis is Associated with Progressive Thrombocytosis

Abstract

The mean platelet count of chronic peritoneal dialysis (cpD) patients (371.000 ± 15.500/mm3) was significantly greater than the mean of hemodialysis (HD) patients (224.000 ± 11.000/mm3. P <. 001). Thrombocvtosis (platelet count > 400.000/ mm3) was noted in 23 of 57 CPD patients hut in only two of 50 chronic HO patients (P < .001). Platelet counts increased with time on CPD. Of CPO patients on dialysis for two years or more .62 % h3d thrombocytosis, in contrast to 6% of HD patients. Platelet counts of CPD patients correlated positivelv with time on PD and serum creatinine. and negatively with age. While there is a progressive increase in platelet counts with peritoneal dialysis. we do not know the underlying mechanisms of thrombocvtosis. the relationship to a possible hypercoagulable state and potential risk for thromboembolic events.

The urem1c bleeding tendency 1S associated with abnormal platelet function but platelet counts usually are normal III both uremic patients and those on hemodialysis (1. 2). The bleeding tendency in uremia is corrected by peritoneal dialysis (PD) (3–5), and several have suggested that hypercoagulability may exist in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) (5). However. except tor a rare patient with thrombocytosis (4,6) platelet counts of most PD patients are normal (3–5), although these counts may increase after starting peritoneal dialysis (4). This study was done to assess platelet counts in chronic PD patients and compare them to those on hemodialysis (HD). Platelet counts were elevated in PD when compared to HD and we performed further correlations with clinical and laboratory parameters in PD patients.