Abstract
Investigations concerning the influence of pharmacologic agents on transperitoneal water movement are predominantly undertaken in the hope that their results can help in a restoration of net ultrafiltration (UF) volume toward normal in cases with declining UF during long-term dialysis treatment. Net UF volume represents the difference between net transcapillary UF and lymphatic absorption.
The choice of a pharmacological agent for enhancing UF depends on the mechanisms responsible for net UF loss, which include: (a) early dissipation of the transperitoneal osmotic gradient; (b) decrease in the peritoneal surface area; (c) Iymphomonokine overproduction; (d) enhanced lymphatic absorption; (e) high residual volumes left in the peritoneal cavity; or (f) a combination of these factors. Leakage of dialysate to the abdominal wall sometimes occurring in peritoneally dialysed patients (1), according to a definition of net UF volume, cannot be regarded as a true UF loss.
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