10-year-long survival in a PD patient with severe calcifying encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis treated with tamoxifen: a case-report

Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Peritoneal Fibrosis and Peritoneal Membrane Dysfunction in Peritoneal Dialysis

The characteristic feature of chronic peritoneal damage in peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a decline in ultrafiltration capacity associated with pathological fibrosis and angiogenesis. The pathogenesis of peritoneal fibrosis is attributed to bioincompatible factors of PD fluid and peritonitis. Uremia is associated with peritoneal membrane inflammation that affects fibrosis, neoangiogenesis, and baseline peritoneal membrane function. Net ultrafiltration volume is affected by capillary surface area, vasculopathy, peritoneal fibrosis, and lymphangiogenesis. Many inflammatory cytokines induce fibrogenic growth factors, with crosstalk between macrophages and fibroblasts. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A are the key mediators of fibrosis and angiogenesis, respectively. Bioincompatible factors of PD fluid upregulate TGF-β expression by mesothelial cells that contributes to the development of fibrosis. Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis can progress during fibrosis via TGF-β-VEGF-A/C pathways. Complement activation occurs in fungal peritonitis and progresses insidiously during PD. Analyses of the human peritoneal membrane have clarified the mechanisms by which encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis develops. Different effects of dialysates on the peritoneal membrane were also recognized, particularly in terms of vascular damage. Understanding the pathophysiologies of the peritoneal membrane will lead to preservation of peritoneal membrane function and improvements in technical survival, mortality, and quality of life for PD patients.

Idiopathic Sclerosing Encapsulating Peritonitis in a Patient with Atypical Symptoms and Imaging Findings

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis is a rare condition caused by a fibrotic membrane covering the small bowel which may lead to abdominal pain or obstruction. The cause may be primary and idiopathic or secondary to several diseases, treatments, and/or medications. The condition typically presents with bowel obstruction, and only one previous case has described ascites as the presenting sign. Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis is typically diagnosed intraoperatively. We present a case of a patient who presented with atypical clinical symptoms including respiratory distress, recurrent abdominal ascites, and failure to thrive who was diagnosed nonoperatively.