Alpha-2-macroglobulin and albumin are useful serum proteins to detect subclinical peritonitis in the rat.

Background: In experimental peritoneal dialysis (PD) studies, the occurrence of peritonitis is a confounder in the interpretation of effects of chronic peritoneal exposure to dialysis solutions. Since fluid cannot be drained in most experimental PD models in the rat, it is impossible to diagnose peritonitis based on dialysate white blood cell counts. To study the value of serum markers for the presence of peritonitis, alpha-2-macroglobulin (alpha2M) and albumin were measured in rats with and without peritonitis after chronic exposure to dialysis solutions.

Effects of inhibition of the polyol pathway during chronic peritoneal exposure to a dialysis solution.

Background: Peritoneal dialysis with glucose- and lactate-containing dialysis solutions stimulates peritoneal angiogenesis and fibrosis. These serious side effects can also be induced by chronic peritoneal exposure to dialysis solutions in nonuremic rats. The high glucose concentrations of the dialysis solutions may saturate physiological glucose metabolism pathways and stimulate the polyol pathway that has been described to damage nerves and vessels in diabetes mellitus.