[Biochemical changes with continuous ambulant peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)]

During the past few years continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) has become well established in the home treatment of uremia. CAPD, however, may induce certain biochemical abnormalities. Using glucose as an osmotic agent of the dialysate the peritoneal glucose load may vary between 75 and 200 g per day, depending upon how often high osmotic dialysate is needed. If the latter is restricted to one bag per day a long-term disturbance of the glucoregulatory hormones insulin, GIP an glucagon seem to be inprobable. Investigations into glucose tolerance after 23 til 34 months of CAPD treatment in 4 patients did not indicate any exhaustion of the pancreatic beta-cells. Long-term evaluation into the metabolism of lipoproteins, total plasma proteins, aminoacids and trace elements did not show significant abnormalities induced by CAPD itself. Biochemical alterations observed are more or less related to the uremic state of the patients.