Measurement of peritoneal clearances in self-dialysis patients

Twelve chronic peritoneal dialysis patients were studied on 20 occasions to measure peritoneal clearances of creatinine, urea, uric acid, and potassium. Two clearance techniques were employed, the classical type using timed collections and a midpoint blood specimen and an experimental type using calculated dialysate flow and predialysis peritoneal fluid solute concentrations. Comparison of the two techniques demonstrated a close correlation between simultaneously measured clearances and also for repeat measurements in the same patient. The new technique is simple and reproducible, does not require blood sampling, and can be performed in the home by patients treated by self-dialysis using automated peritoneal dialysis equipment. The new technique will allow more frequent monitoring of peritoneal permeance in self-dialysis patients, and necessary adjustments in treatment time can be prescribed without requiring hospitalization.