Icodextrin does not impact infectious and culture-negative peritonitis rates in peritoneal dialysis patients: a 2-year multicentre, comparative, prospective cohort study.

Background: Icodextrin is a glucose polymer derived by hydrolysis of cornstarch. The different biocompatibility profile of icodextrin-containing peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions may have a positive influence on peritoneal host defence. Furthermore, cases of sterile peritonitis potentially associated with icodextrin have been reported.

D-dimer and inflammatory markers as predictors of functional decline in men and women with and without peripheral arterial disease.

Objectives: To determine whether higher circulating levels of inflammatory and thrombotic markers are associated with greater decline in lower extremity performance.

Design: Prospective cohort.

Setting: Academic medical center.

Functional decline in peripheral arterial disease: associations with the ankle brachial index and leg symptoms.

Context: Among individuals with lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD), specific leg symptoms and the ankle brachial index (ABI) are cross-sectionally related to the degree of functional impairment. However, relations between these clinical characteristics and objectively measured functional decline are unknown.

Objective: To define whether PAD, ABI, and specific leg symptoms predict functional decline at 2-year follow-up.