Long-term continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Mass transfer and nutritional and metabolic stability.

Long-term mass transfer and nutritional and metabolic stability of end-stage renal disease patients maintained on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) continue to be of concern. This study longitudinally monitored 43 Japanese CAPD patients (29 males, 14 females) from three centres within the Tokyo Metropolitan Area for an average period of 15 +/- (SD) 8 months. The mean time for patients on CAPD at study initiation was 18 +/- 15 months. Monitored parameters included urea and creatinine mass transfer coefficients, clearances and blood levels, ultrafiltration, lipid levels, dietary protein intake, and weight. Lipid data were also gathered retrospectively from patient records from the time of CAPD initiation. The results were analyzed using regression growth curve analysis and analysis of variance. Statistically significant linear rises with time were apparent only for the creatinine mass transfer coefficients, although this was not considered clinically significant in terms of changes either in peritoneal creatinine clearances or ultrafiltration. Serum cholesterol levels were found to rise significantly above pre-dialysis levels 11 months after CAPD onset, thereafter returning to levels not significantly above baseline levels. In summary, CAPD provided stable, acceptable treatment over the study period.