Prevention of peritoneal sclerosis: a new proposal to substitute glucose with carnitine dialysis solution (biocompatibility testing in vitro and in rabbits).

AIM: Commercial glucose peritoneal dialysis solutions expose the peritoneum to hyperosmolar glucose containing variable amounts of non-enzymic breakdown products of glucose. These solutions are toxic for the peritoneum. The aim of the present study is to compare in vitro and in vivo characteristics of a new dialysis solution containing carnitine, a naturally occurring compound, as substitute of glucose.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared in vitro and in the rabbit a new peritoneal dialysis solution containing carnitine, with two standard bicarbonate glucose peritoneal dialysis solutions and a solution containing icodextrin.
RESULTS: In vitro and in vivo the solution containing carnitine seems to be more biocompatible than standard glucose solutions and those containing icodextrin.
CONCLUSIONS: In our study the peritoneal dialysis solution containing carnitine seems to prevent the mesothelial changes observed with solutions containing glucose. Since carnitine has been extensively studied and seems to be well tolerated by hemodialysis patients, even at high doses for long periods, clinical trials in humans may be planned in the near future.