Polyanions and glucose as osmotic agents in simulated peritoneal dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis solutions contain glucose as an osmotic agent to obtain ultrafiltration. Due to rapid absorption, glucose does not sustain high ultrafiltration during long exchanges. Nonabsorbable polyanions might be effective as osmotic agents when suspended in electrolyte solution. Concentrations of freely diffusible ions should be in Gibbs-Donnan equilibrium with plasma electrolytes. The ideal proportion of diffusable to polymerbound cation concentrations is unknown. To obtain concentrations of free ions in equilibrium with plasma, it is assumed that the polymer solution dialyzed against a polyelectrolyte solution of the desired composition (with hydraulic pressure higher on the polymer side) will approach the same thermodynamic activity as the electrolyte solution. Subsequently, if transmembrane pressure is released, osmotic ultrafiltration will occur in proportion to the hydrostatic pressure applied during polymer solution preparation. Polyacrylate solution so prepared was compared with a commercial dextrose dialysis solution in an in vitro simulation of peritoneal dialysis. With dwell times up to 24 h, sustained ultrafiltration with polymer was observed, whereas, with dextrose, ultrafiltration ceased after 8 h. Concentrations of diffusible bivalent cations in polyacrylate were lower than intended due to avid polymer complexing; however, dextran sulfate solutions were developed to contain desired concentrations of diffusible electrolytes. The conclusion is that some polymer solutions might be useful in clinical settings when high sustained ultrafiltration is needed.