Standard peritoneal permeability analysis in children

Peritoneal transport characteristics in children on peritoneal dialysis (PD ) has been reported to be different compared to adults. However, various te st methods can influence this difference. Thirty-one standard peritoneal pe rmeability analyses (SPA) were performed in 18 PD children with a median (r ange) age of 9.8 yr (2 to 19) and a median duration of PD of 2.6 yr (0.19 t o 6.8). The median mass transfer area coefficient (MTAC) for creatinine was 9.6 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) (4.4 to 18.0), and for urea 17.3 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) (12.2 to 22.8). The median dialysate to plasma creatinine ratio (DIPCr ) was 0.69 (0.44 to 0.92), the glucose absorption 59% (23 to 75), and the D /D-0 for glucose 0.38-(0.23 to 0.62). The median clearance of B-2-microglob ulin was 923 mu l/min per 1.73 m(2) (366 to 1828), of albumin 103 mu l/min per 1.73 m(2) (55 to 211), of IgG 48 mu l/min per 1.73 m(2) (20 to 105), an d of alpha(2)-macroglobulin 12 mu l/min per 1.73 m(2) (5 to 49). No correla tion was found between these results and age or PD time. The restriction co efficient for macromolecules indeed increased with duration of PD treatment (r = 0.38, P = 0.03). The median transcapillary ultrafiltration rate was 1 .2 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) (-0.01 to 2.8), the net ultrafiltration rate 0.2 ml /min per 1.73 m(2) (-1.97 to 1.82), and the effective lymphatic absorption rate 1.04 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) (-0.06 to 2.91). When corrected for body sur face area, no differences were found in peritoneal fluid and solute transpo rt characteristics between children and adults. No effect of time on PD on the transport parameters was found in a cross-sectional analysis, except fo r an increase of the restriction coefficient to macromolecules. This findin g is similar to observations in adults. Therefore, the present study showed no evidence for the common belief that the peritoneal membrane in children is different from that in adult patients.