Peritoneal ultrafiltration after chronic exposure to dialysis fluid.

Eleven rats were given twice-daily intraperitoneal injections of 20 mL of dialysis fluid containing 4.5% glucose for 6 weeks. The peritoneal ultrafiltration capacity of this group was compared with that of a control group of 10 rats that had received no injections by measuring the volume and glucose concentration of the dialysate remaining in the peritoneal cavity 2 hours after injection. Animals that had received injections of dialysis fluid showed significant loss of peritoneal ultrafiltration: volume of dialysate remaining in the control group was 31 (13-35) mL, and in the experimental group was 25 (11-45) mL, with p less than 0.02 (Mann-Whitney). This was associated with enhanced glucose absorption: glucose absorbed by the control group was 382 (312-706) mg, and 595 (435-738) mg in the experimental group (p less than 0.002, Mann-Whitney).