Influence of intraperitoneal dialyzate on blood pressure during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Blood pressure (BP) of patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) must be well controlled. The present study tests a clinical impression that BP recordings are higher with dialyzate within the peritoneal cavity than after it is drained out. 8 CAPD patients had systolic BP, diastolic BP and heart rate measured both with dialyzate in situ and after drainage. Paired t-tests showed systolic BP and diastolic BP but not heart rate to be significantly (P less than 0.05) higher with dialyzate in situ. To avoid a false impression of good BP control it is recommended patients on CAPD measure BP with dialyzate in situ.