Long-term effects of peritonitis on peritoneal dialysis outcomes

Prevalence of peritoneal dialysis is low in part because of the perceived high risk for complications such as peritonitis. However, in the most recent era, peritonitis incidence and its effects on patient outcomes may have diminished. The aim of this study was to analyze peritonitis incidence and its impact on patient and technique survival, as well as on the kidney transplantation rate and outcome.

All peritoneal dialysis patients from a county hospital between year 2001 and 2011 were retrospectively included. Patients were divided into two groups with respect to peritonitis. The primary composite end-point consisted of a 3-year patient mortality or technique loss. Secondary end-points were patient survival and probability of kidney transplantation with respect to peritonitis history.

Among 85 study patients, there were 61 peritonitis episodes. The incidence of peritonitis was 0.339 ± 0.71 episode per patient per 12 months or one episode per 29.3 ± 22.2 patient-months. The time to peritonitis was shorter, and peritonitis was more likely in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis than in automated peritoneal dialysis patients. Patient and technique survival and transplantation rate were similar in the group with and without peritonitis history. The primary end-point was recorded in 35 % of patients with peritonitis history and in 54 % of those without peritonitis (p = 0.04). In a multivariate analysis, the only variable significantly associated with the primary end-point and with patient survival was patient age at start of peritoneal dialysis.

In contemporary peritoneal dialysis patients, timely treated peritonitis may not be associated with adverse patient and technique outcomes. The transplantation rate is unaffected by the peritonitis history. Peritoneal dialysis may be promoted as the first dialysis method in appropriate patients.