Peritoneal solute transport rate as an independent risk factor for total and cardiovascular mortality in a population of peritoneal dialysis patients.

The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of peritoneal permeability expressed as the dialysate-to-plasma ratio of creatinine (D/P Cr) on total and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in a population of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients during a 6-year observation period. The study recruited 55 patients (mean age: 53 years) treated with PD for a median of 24 months. Hematology parameters and serum albumin were determined using routine methods. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta1) were determined by high-sensitivity ELISA. Peritoneal transport characteristics were identified using D/P Cr reference values after a peritoneal equilibration test. During the 6-year observation period, 22 patients (40%) died, mostly from CV complications (77% of deaths). In multiple Cox regression, D/P Cr and dialysate volume at PD initiation predicted total [hazard ratio (HR): 1.57; p = 0.02; and HR: 1.20; p = 0.04 respectively] and CV mortality (HR: 1.65; p = 0.02; and HR: 1.23; p = 0.05 respectively) independent of age, dialysis therapy duration, serum albumin concentration, dialysis adequacy measures, TGF-beta1, and TNF-alpha. Additionally, TNF-alpha was independently associated with all-cause and CV mortality, and albumin, with all-cause mortality. Baseline D/P Cr was a strong independent marker of survival in PD patients. Baseline D/P Cr and dialysate volume were independent risk factors for total and CV mortality in the PD population and could be significant for assessing CV risk in this population.