Long-term outcomes in patients with encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis managed with nutritional support.

Background: Little is known about long-term survivors with encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS). Published literature focuses on patients managed surgically. We describe our experience of the long-term outcomes in patients with EPS conservatively managed with nutritional support alone.

Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective observational study of patients who had survived for 5 years since diagnosis. EPS survivors were invited for review of symptoms, nutritional assessment and evaluation of quality of life. Radiological progression was assessed based on serial computed tomography (CT) scores for each patient.

Results: A total of 23 patients with a diagnosis of EPS for at least 5 years were identified, with 18 patients alive at the time of the study. Of these 18 patients, 10 patients transferred to haemodialysis (HD) and 8 patients received kidney transplants. Commonest symptoms were nausea (91%) and vomiting (73%). Mean body mass index for patients was within the ideal and healthy range, with only 11% suffering from continued weight loss. In all, 70% EPS survivors on HD received nutritional support compared to 15% of those with transplants; 17% required ongoing parenteral nutrition. Of the 11 patients with serial CT scans at least 4 years apart, 10 had an increase in radiological score for EPS but with no apparent correlation to clinical outcomes. There were no significant differences in the reported quality of life between EPS survivors on HD and those transplanted, with self-rated health status equivalent to that reported for the general end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) population.

Conclusion: Long-term survival following EPS managed conservatively with nutritional support is feasible, with the majority no longer requiring nutritional support and having a quality of life similar to other patients with ESKD.