Assessment of peritoneal thickness using CT in relation to dialysis adequacy in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Studies assessing peritoneal thickness by CT in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are lacking. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between peritoneal thickness as measured by CT and dialysis adequacy with peritoneal membrane characteristics in PD patients. Ninety-four PD patients were enrolled. Peritoneal thickness was measured by CT. Patients with and without a decrease in Kt/V of at least 0.3 over time were classified as Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. An increase of 0.1 unit of dialysate/plasma (D/P) creatinine over time were considered significant. The relationship between peritoneal membrane thickness, change in Kt/V, and peritoneal membrane characteristics were investigated. There were 31 (33.0%) patients in Group 1. The duration of PD (86.0 ± 64.1 vs. 59.6 ± 45.2 months, p: 0.023), peritoneal thickness (1.02 ± 0.37 vs. 0.87 ± 0.21 mm, p: 0.015), peritoneal calcification (7 [22.6%] vs. 3 [4.8%] patients, p: 0.013], increased D/P creatinine ratio (14 [45.2%] vs. 14 [22.2%] patients, p: 0.031) and CRP (13.9 ± 11.2 vs. 7.1 ± 4.8 mg/L, p: 0.045) were significantly higher in Group 1, whereas albumin (3.6 ± 0.5 vs. 3.8 ± 0.6 g/dL, p: 0.047) and parathyroid hormone (355.2 ± 260.2 vs. 532.1 ± 332.9 ng/L, p: 0.015) levels were significantly lower. Peritoneal thickness was significantly correlated with duration of PD (r: 0.775, p < 0.001) and CRP (r: 0.282, p: 0.006). Regression analysis showed that peritoneal thickness (Exp (B) [95% CI]: 0.029 [0.003-0.253], p: 0.001) was independent predictor of decreased Kt/V in PD patients. In conclusion, prolonged PD duration and increased peritoneal thickness are associated with a decrease in Kt/V over time. CT may be an alternative and noninvasive method instead of peritoneal biopsy for determining the structural changes of the peritoneal membrane .

Chronic kidney disease progression in aged patients.

PURPOSE: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major morbidity, and its prevalence increases with age. However, there appears to be some confusion about the prognosis of CKD in aged patients, because, it has its own characteristics different from youngers. In this study, we investigated the progression of CKD and related factors in aged patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective study including 334 patients over 80 years of age that were diagnosed with stage 3-4 CKD at our CKD clinic. CKD progression was assessed as an annual decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Comorbidities were globally categorized with the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), but diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiac morbidities were evaluated separately. Patients were grouped as either 'progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD)' or 'others'. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 191 (57.2%) patients exhibited progression; the annual median eGFR declined by 0.8 ml/min/1.73 m2. Only 27 (8.1%) of these patients progressed to ESRD. In univariant and multivariate models, respectively, progressing to ESRD was significantly associated with cardiac comorbidities (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), proteinuria (p < 0.001, p = 0.03), and the baseline eGFR value (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In aged patients, CKD progressed slowly, but particularly high initial creatinine levels and proteinuria could be indicator of progression. In addition, cardiac comorbidities may facilitate progression to ESRD.