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Updated: Sep 21, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing the Analysis of Plasma Extracellular Vesicle Proteome for Cardiovascular Biomarker Studies
Published on: January 31, 2025
Proteomics and Extracellular Vesicles as Novel Biomarker Sources in Peritoneal Dialysis in Children
Chiara Trincianti1, Vincenzo Meleca1, Edoardo La Porta2
1Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Mother-Child Health, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
Insights
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is preferred for children with kidney failure, but chronic inflammation can cause complications. Proteomic analysis of peritoneal fluids may reveal biomarkers to personalize treatment and improve outcomes for pediatric PD patients.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Biomarker Discovery
- Pediatric Dialysis
Background:
- Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the preferred renal replacement therapy for pediatric end-stage kidney disease due to its advantages over hemodialysis (HD).
- Long-term PD use can lead to peritoneal membrane complications, primarily driven by chronic inflammation, potentially causing PD failure.
- Understanding the pathogenic pathways of peritoneal membrane alterations is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research on proteomic analysis of peritoneal fluids and extracellular vesicles.
- To explore the potential of these analyses for identifying novel biomarkers in pediatric PD patients.
- To discuss how biomarker discovery can lead to personalized interventions and improved clinical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental and clinical studies on proteomic analysis in PD.
- Analysis of peritoneal fluids and extracellular vesicles for potential biomarkers.
- Focus on pediatric PD patient populations.
Main Results:
- Chronic inflammation significantly impacts peritoneal membrane structure and function, leading to sclerosis and PD failure.
- Proteomic analysis of peritoneal fluids and extracellular vesicles shows promise for identifying biomarkers.
- Biomarkers could aid in early detection of complications and personalized treatment strategies.
Conclusions:
- Proteomic analysis of peritoneal fluids and extracellular vesicles represents a promising avenue for biomarker discovery in pediatric PD.
- Identifying high-risk patients and implementing personalized interventions can improve the long-term outcomes of pediatric PD.
- Further research into these mechanisms is essential for advancing the care of children undergoing PD.
Abstract:
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) represents the dialysis modality of choice for pediatric patients with end-stage kidney disease. Indeed, compared with hemodialysis (HD), it offers many advantages, including more flexibility, reduction of the risk of hospital-acquired infections, preservation of residual kidney function, and a better quality of life. However, despite these positive aspects, PD may be associated with several long-term complications that may impair both patient's general health and PD adequacy. In this view, chronic inflammation, caused by different factors, has a detrimental impact on the structure and function of the peritoneal membrane, leading to sclerosis and consequent PD failure both in adults and children. Although several studies investigated the complex pathogenic pathways underlying peritoneal membrane alterations, these processes remain still to explore. Understanding these mechanisms may provide novel approaches to improve the clinical outcome of pediatric PD patients through the identification of subjects at high risk of complications and the implementation of personalized interventions. In this review, we discuss the main experimental and clinical experiences exploring the potentiality of the proteomic analysis of peritoneal fluids and extracellular vesicles as a source of novel biomarkers in pediatric peritoneal dialysis.
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