Usefulness of bioelectrical impedance analysis in monitoring nutrition status and survival of peritoneal dialysis patients.

Malnutrition is highly prevalent in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and is associated with higher mortality. Lower serum levels of markers of nutrition--such as albumin, creatinine, prealbumin, and total cholesterol--are important risk factors in PD patients. Usefulness of bioimpedance analysis (BIA) in hemodialysis (HD) patients has been reported.

Outcome of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding in patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Protein malnutrition is now well established as an important contributory factor to the high mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Low dietary protein calorie intake is one of the factors leading to protein malnutrition. If PD patients develop difficulty eating, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding may prove beneficial in providing adequate nutrition.

Peritonitis and the patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

The prevalence of HIV positive patients (HIV pts) with ESRD is likely to increase and many will be going on CAPD. There are, however, factors which cause one to be concerned about a possible increased risk of peritonitis in these patients. These include not only their impaired immune and nutritional status, but often their mental status.

Successful treatment of tuberculous peritonitis while maintaining patient on CAPD.

Although conventional wisdom advises removal of the Tenckhoff catheter as part of the therapy for tuberculous peritonitis, there are a few recent reports of cases successfully treated while maintaining the patients on CAPD. We wish to report three cases treated without interrupting CAPD. In two of the patients, cultures were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and in the third case, although the cultures were negative, the patient improved on anti-Tb medications.

Variability of peritoneal clearances for apolipoprotein and its relationship to susceptibility for atherosclerotic changes in CAPD.

Apolipoprotein Clearance and Atherogenicity in CAPD: Protein and lipoprotein loss is one of the disadvantages of CAPD. The impact of these losses on serum constituents is not fully understood. Lipoprotein disorders are observed in patients with chronic or acute renal failure or undergoing dialytic therapy with resultant increase in atherosclerotic clinical events yet these phenomenon are poorly understood, underinvestigated and underreported.