Can the risk of peritonitis be predicted for new continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients?

Serum and overnight dialysate samples were obtained from 36 adult uraemic patients at the end of their continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) training. The samples were analysed for albumin, IgG, C3, and antistaphylococcal peptidoglycan antibody. None of the dialysate measurements correlated with the risk of peritonitis during up to one year's CAPD treatment. Nineteen of the 36 patients were retested 6 to 20 months after starting CAPD. There were significant rises in serum C3 (p less than 0.02) and albumin (p less than 0.001) and a significant fall in dialysate IgG (p less than 0.02). Eight further patients were sampled at the end of training and three weeks later. They had a significant fall in dialysate IgG (p less than 0.05). During CAPD training peritoneal permeability appears to be transiently increased. Analysis of overnight dialysate samples during training does not allow prediction of those at risk of subsequent peritonitis.