The effects of heparin administration in an animal model of chronic peritoneal dialysate exposure

Diverse modes of heparin administration have been used in animal models of chronic peritoneal dialysate exposure to maintain catheter patency and prevent fibrinous adhesions. Heparin has biological actions independent of its well-known anticoagulant activity, including the ability to modulate extracellular matrix synthesis, cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, and inflammation. These actions may interfere with peritoneal membrane homeostasis. The present study evaluated the influence of the mode of heparin administration on technique survival and infection rate in a rat model of chronic dialysate exposure. Further, the incorporation of heparin in the peritoneal membrane was examined. A 3.86% glucose dialysate was injected twice daily into Wistar rats with a heparin-coated catheter (group A1), or with a standard catheter with heparin injections during the entire exposure time (group A2) or only during 1 week (group A3). Sham manipulations were performed in a fourth group and a fifth group was left untreated. Technique survival was 80% in group A1, 60% in group A2, and 40% in group A3. The rate of infection was highest in group A1 and lowest in group A2. Intraperitoneally administered heparin accumulated in the peritoneal membrane, whereas dextran, with a molecular weight similar to that of heparin, was not incorporated in the peritoneum. In conclusion, intraperitoneal heparin reduced the incidence of infection in an animal model of chronic dialysate exposure. The best technique survival was, however, obtained using a heparin-coated catheter. Heparin is incorporated in the peritoneal membrane, where it may exert diverse biological actions and thus bias study results. The use of a heparin-coated catheter in combination with antibiotics may be the optimal approach to obtaining peritoneal access in animal models of chronic dialysate exposure.