Measurement by magnetic resonance imaging of the peritoneal membrane in contact with dialysate in rats.

To be optimal, a peritoneal dialysis prescription should consider the peritoneal surface area recruitment. In fact, as shown by computed tomography imaging, only a fraction of the available anatomic peritoneum is in contact with the dialysate (PDF). Various factors may dynamically affect the recruitment of the wetted membrane: posture, fill volume, PDF composition (biocompatibility), and pharmacologic agents (phospholipids).