Augmentation of peritoneal dialysis clearance with procaine

Local anesthetic procaine in a 0.25% concentration was used as the adjunct to the dialysis fluid during peritoneal dialysis in rabbits. Procaine increased peritoneal clearance of urea (2.213 +/- 0.187 ml/min to 3.544 +/- 0.41 ml/min) and inulin (0.528 +/- 0.079 ml/min to 0.852 +/- 0.213 ml/min). Effect of the drug persisted, despite its lack, during the following cycles. Procaine influenced transmesothelial transfer of urea and inulin in vitro. The effect of the drug was biphasic. During the first 20 min a decrease of both solutes fluxes was observed. Then the transport rate of urea and inulin started to grow. The effect of procaine was independent of the membrane's side to which the drug was added. At least two sites of procaine action (vascular system and mesothelium) during peritoneal dialysis are proposed.