Comparison of immediate-start peritoneal dialysis without break-in period and conventional-start peritoneal dialysis: a two-center retrospective audit.

PURPOSE: Immediate-start peritoneal dialysis (PD) has emerged as a strategy for patients in need of urgent dialysis. However, the ideal timing for initiating this procedure remains uncertain. In this study, we aimed to compare complications and outcomes between immediate-start PD and conventional-start PD. METHODS: We performed a two-center retrospective cohort study between 1 January 2015 and 31 May 2020. Patients who underwent PD were divided into immediate-start PD (without break-in period) and conventional-start PD group (break-in period within at least 14 days). The primary outcomes were the incidence of the mechanical complications and infectious complication. The secondary outcomes were technique failure and patient survival. RESULTS: A total of 209 patients (106 in the immediate-start PD group and 103 in the conventional-start PD group) were included. Immediate-start PD had significantly lower catheter malfunction or migration rate compare with conventional-start PD (2.8% vs. 15.5%, p = 0.003) but comparable rates of dialysate leaks, pleuroperitoneal leaks, and hemoperitoneum. Infectious complications (exit-site infection and peritonitis) were similar between groups. Technique survival was comparable (7.5% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.22), while immediate-start PD exhibited lower mortality rates (0.9% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Immediate-start PD appears to be a viable option for patients in need of urgent dialysis, with reduced catheter complications and comparable infectious complications and technique survival when compared to conventional-start PD.

Clinical presentation and outcome of Thai patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: retrospective analysis of 184 cases.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which is the most common leukemia in adult population in the Western world, is surprisingly rare in Thailand. The objective of our study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical presentations and outcome of a large cohort of Thai CLL patients diagnosed at a single institution in Bangkok, Thailand, from 1963-1998. One hundred and eighty-four patients were included in the study. The most frequent age group was 60-80 years old with the male to female ratio of 2:1. Only 12% of patients were younger than the age of 50. Most patients were from the central agricultural region of Thailand. Clinical findings at presentation included splenomegaly (64%), lymphadenopathy (60%), anemia (54%), hepatomegaly (49%), fatigue (39%), weight loss (33%), fever (21%), thrombocytopenia (18%), and anorexia (8%). Only 8% of Thai CLL patients were asymptomatic at presentation. The majority of patients were categorized as stages III and IV with the median survival of 20 months and 8 months, respectively. Infection was the most common cause of death, particularly in the elderly patients who had comorbid illnesses. Twenty-two percent of the patients had associated autoimmune disorders. The unfavorable prognostic factors observed were older age (> 70 years), weight loss and hepatosplenomegaly. We concluded that the age and gender of Thai CLL patients were similar to those of the Western countries but our patients came to medical attention at a later and more advanced stage. Prospective studies at a multi-center level in Thailand should be pursued to investigate further the genetic and epidemiologic nature of Thai CLL patients.