Neoangiogenesis in the peritoneal membrane

Objective:This study reviews relevant publications on the peritoneal vascul ature and tries to establish morphological-functional relationships. Design:The design is a review article. Results: Recent morphological studies in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients have shown the presence of diabetiform neoangiogenesis in long-term periton eal dialysis. The same abnormalities could be induced in rats administered a high glucose dialysis solution daily for 20 weeks. The animals showed fun ctional abnormalities in peritoneal transport similar to those found in lon g-term PD patients. Evidence was obtained in patients that vascular endothe lial growth factor could be involved in glucose-induced peritoneal neoangio genesis. Conclusions: Diabetiform peritoneal neoangiogenesis is an important pathoge netic factor in ultrafiltration failure in long-term peritoneal dialysis pa tients.