Peritoneal vascular changes in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD): an in vivo model for the study of...

Replication of the basement membrane of the peritoneal capillaries and the mesothelium is observed in all uremic patients after a period of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Biopsy specimens of the parietal peritoneum were taken in diabetic and non-diabetic patients on insertion or repositioning of the CAPD catheter. The basement membrane of the capillaries and mesothelium was normal in non-diabetics on insertion of the catheter, but after 2 to 66 months of CAPD, multiple replication was found. In nearly all the diabetics there was already replication of the basement membrane of the peritoneal capillaries before CAPD was begun but the basement membrane of the mesothelium was intact. After several months of CAPD thickening of the basement membrane of the capillaries was found in 36% of diabetics, sometimes to the point of occlusion. After CAPD, replication of the basement membrane of the mesothelium has been observed in both diabetics and non-diabetics although it is initially perfectly normal in both. CAPD is proposed as an experimental model for diabetic microangiopathy in man.