Peritoneal catheter loss and death in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis peritonitis: correlation with clinical and biochemical parameters.

Clinical and biochemical parameters associated with the removal of the peritoneal catheter and death following continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) peritonitis were analyzed in 120 episodes of peritonitis. Episodes resulting in catheter removal (n = 24, 20%) and those ending in patient death (n = 12, 10%) were respectively compared with episodes in which peritoneal catheters were saved and from which the patients survived. Variables associated with catheter removal included advanced age, long duration of peritonitis, coexisting exit-site/tunnel infection, infection caused by pseudomonas or fungi, elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and malnutrition at presentation with peritonitis (serum albumin 29.5 +/- 7.6 g/L vs 33.8 +/- 4.8 g/L in episodes in which the catheters were saved, p = 0.014), and worsening malnutrition during peritonitis. Variables associated with death from peritonitis included diabetes mellitus, persistence of the infection, removal of the peritoneal catheter, infection with pseudomonas, malnutrition prior to the infection (serum albumin 29.5 +/- 3.2 g/L vs 34.7 +/- 4.2 g/L in survivors, p < 0.001), presentation with elevated AST and worsening malnutrition, and the development of pronounced malnutrition during infection (serum albumin 18.1 +/- 4.1 g/L vs 28.9 +/- 5.8 g/L in survivors, p < 0.001). Deaths were caused primarily by cardiovascular events. Both removal of the peritoneal catheter and death as consequences of CAPD peritonitis are associated with malnutrition and pseudomonas infection. In addition, death is more frequent in diabetic patients.