FIBRIN TURNOVER IN PLASMA AND PERITONEAL-DIALYSIS EFFLUENT OF CAPD PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT PERITONITIS

Fibrin deposition in the peritoneal cavity of patients with chronic re nal failure on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) may re sult in adhesions and peritoneal fibrosis. We used a new fibrin specif ic monoclonal antibody for demonstrating different turnover of fibrin monomer and fibrin degradation products in plasma compared to dialysis effluent of CAPD patients. Tn all patients we measured higher levels of fibrin monomer (FM) in dialysate than in plasma, even higher in pla sma and effluent of patients with peritonitis. Western blot showed onl y high molecular bands (310-340 KD) in plasma. Tn the dialysis effluen t we found seven bands up to 100 KD indicating the presence of fibrin degradation products (FbDP).