Maximum ultrafiltration rates during peritoneal dialysis in rats

Pentoxifylline Does Not Influence Maximum Ultrafiltration Rates and Peritoneal Transport in Rats

Previous publications have suggested that peritoneal capillary blood flow and filtration pressure equilibrium may limit ultrafiltration rates with very hypertonic exchanges. Rats were treated with pentoxifylline, which decreases blood viscosity by increasing red blood cell deformability. Decreases in blood viscosity should reduce microcirculatory resistance and increase effective capillary flow. Transport studies were performed after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of therapy with peritoneal dialysis solutions containing 15 grams % dextrose and using 30-min cycles. Even though rats ingested near the maximum recommended dose of pentoxifylline (20 mg/kg) significant changes in blood viscosity and shear stress were not detected compared to controls. Also, there were no significant differences in clearances of urea and phosphorus, glucose absorption, protein losses, and net ultrafiltration compared to controls.

Beta-2 Microglobulin in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: Serum Levels and Peritoneal Clearances

Beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) is amyloidogenic in long-term hemodialysis patients, with amyloid deposition manifesting as lytic bone lesions, carpal tunnel syndrome, destructive arthropathies, tenosynovitis, and pathologic fractures. To study the behavior of this protein in the peritoneal dialysis population, serum levels of B2M from 14 chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) patients (4IPD, 10 CAPD) were compared to those of 15 chronic hemodialysis patients, and peritoneal clearances were measured in 9 CAPD patients. Standard cuprophan dialyzers were used for hemodialysis.

Serum B2M levels were significantly lower in the peritoneal dialysis group (mean ± SD 73.2 ± 20.9 mg/L) than in the hemodialysis group (100.3 ± 24.7 mg/L, p < .004). When CAPD patients alone were compared to the hemodialysis patients, lower serum B2M levels were again apparent, with mean 68.7 ± 16.4 mg/L (p ≤ .002). Mean serum B2M in IPD patients (84.6 ± 28.9 mg/L) did not differ statistically from either the CAPD or the hemodialysis group.

Peritoneal clearance of B2M, urea nitrogen, and creatinine over a 6 h exchange were obtained in 9 CAPD patients without peritonitis. Mean clearance (±SD) of B2M was 0.9 ± 0.4 ml/min/1.73 m2, urea nitrogen 5.3 ± 0.3 ml/min/1.73 m2, and creatinine 4.2 ± 0.8 ml/min/1.73 m2. Mean loss of B2M via the peritoneal cavity was 19.9 ± 6.6 mg/2 L-exchange/1.73 m2 (range 7.7 to 26.2 mg/2 L-exchange/1.73 m2).

Decreased serum B2M in peritoneal dialysis patients is consistent with increased clearance by the peritoneal membrane versus standard cellulosic hemodialysis membranes. Whether use of CPD rather than hemodialysis can prevent or even treat dialysis-associated amyloidosis (AB2M) remains speculative.

The nitric oxide donor nitroprusside intraperitoneally affects peritoneal permeability in CAPD

Nitroprusside is a nitric oxide (NO) donor. To investigate effects of nitroprusside i.p. on peritoneal permeability and perfusion, standard peritoneal permeability analyses were performed. Ten stable CAPD patients were studied twice within one week with glucose based dialysate (1.36% Dianeal) with and without addition of nitroprusside 4.5 mg/liter. Mass transfer area coefficients (MTAC) of CO2 were calculated to estimate peritoneal blood flow. Nitrate, a stable metabolite of NO, and cGMP, a second messenger of NO synthesis, were measured in plasma and dialysate. The MTACs of low molecular weight solutes were greater with nitroprusside (NP) compared to the control dwell (C): creatinine median 14.1 (NP) versus 9.9 ml/min (C), urea 21.7 (NP) versus 18.5 ml/min (C) and urate 10.5 (NP) versus 8.6 ml/min (C) (P < 0.05 for all). This points to an increased effective peritoneal surface area with nitroprusside. Furthermore, the restriction coefficient for the low molecular weight solutes decreased from 1.28 (C) to 1.23 (NP) (P = 0.02), suggesting some effect also on the size selectivity to these solutes. The effect of nitroprusside on the clearances of serum proteins was more pronounced. The increase with nitroprusside was 34% for beta 2-microglobulin, 70% for albumin, 77% for IgG and 143% for alpha 2-macroglobulin. This reduction in size selectivity was reflected in a decrease in the restriction coefficient for macromolecules from 2.29 (C) to 1.86 (NP), P < 0.01. This implies an increase in the intrinsic permeability of the peritoneal membrane. Kinetic modeling, using computer simulations, was done to analyze these effects in terms of the pore theory, using a convection model and a diffusion model for the transport of macromolecules. Nitroprusside led to an increase of both the large pore radius and the small pore radius and of the unrestricted area over diffusion distance. These effects were more pronounced with the diffusion model. The MTAC CO2 was not different: NP 76.9 and C 84.1 ml/min. MTACs of nitrate were not greater than expected on the basis of the molecular weight during both dwells. The dialysate/plasma (D/P) ratio of cGMP was greater after addition of nitroprusside: 0.36, range 0.21 to 0.77 (C) and 0.74, 0.23 to 2.50 (NP), P = 0.02. With nitroprusside the D/P ratio of cGMP was greater than expected on the basis of its molecular weight (P < 0.001). This points to local generation of cGMP after the addition of nitroprusside, induced by NO. No differences were found in the dialysate concentrations of the prostaglandins (PG) PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and thromboxane B2 after addition of nitroprusside. The transcapillary ultrafiltration rate and the net ultrafiltration rate during four hours were not different with nitroprusside. In conclusion, nitroprusside i.p. increased the effective peritoneal surface area and the intrinsic permeability, but the peritoneal blood flow did not change. The greater than expected D/P ratios of cGMP point to local generation of cGMP with nitroprusside, induced by NO.

Ultrafiltration and effective peritoneal blood flow during peritoneal dialysis in the rat

The dependence between maximum net ultrafiltration rate (nUFR) created by 15% dextrose dialysis solution and effective peritoneal capillary blood flow (EPBF) estimated by the diffusive mass transport coefficient (KBD) and peritoneal clearance (Cp) of CO2 gas was evaluated during 30 minute, 15 ml peritoneal dialysis exchanges in anesthetized rats (N = 18). The values of KBD for CO2 suggested a mean EPBF of 1.9 +/- 0.1 (SEM) ml/min for isosmotic exchanges and 2.7 +/- 0.2 ml/min for hyperosmotic ones with a mean maximum nUFR of 0.43 +/- 0.01 ml/min. Cp of CO2 measured after the first five minutes of dwell underestimated EPBF. In normally hydrated rats, maximum nUFR was achieved when the peritoneal filtration fraction was 32 +/- 2%. This value is similar to the glomerular filtration fraction in rats of 30%. Thus, our results indicate the following relationships: EPBF = (approximately 3 x maximum nUFR)/(1 - hematocrit). EPBF was about six times greater than maximum nUFR and exceeded about 57 times nUFR obtained under isosmotic conditions. These differences between EPBF and nUFR suggest normal EPBF is not a major limiting factor for maximum ultrafiltration achieved during peritoneal dialysis.

The kinetics of ultrafiltration during peritoneal dialysis: the role of lymphatics

Net ultrafiltration was measured directly during hypertonic peritoneal dialysis exchanges in rats. Simultaneously, lymphatic absorption was measured by monitoring the disappearance of albumin in the instilled dialysis solution from the peritoneal cavity. The albumin method for measuring lymphatic absorption was also tested in rats absorbing Lactated Ringer's solution from the peritoneal cavity where absorption rate could also be measured directly. The findings suggest the following: 1.) lymphatic absorption rate is similar with both hypertonic dialysis solutions and Lactated Ringer's solution; 2.) lymphatic absorption is substantial and net ultrafiltration is well below true transcapillary ultrafiltration; and 3.) in our model, lymphatic absorption occurs at a relatively constant rate over six hours of dwell time.