Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Surgical Techniques for Catheter Placement and 5/6 Nephrectomy in Murine Models of Peritoneal Dialysis
Published on: July 19, 2018
Initial hypoalbuminemia and hyperlipidemia persist during chronic peritoneal dialysis in children
Insights
Pediatric peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients exhibit high rates of abnormal lipid profiles and low albumin, which persist during treatment. These cardiovascular risk factors require serious consideration in children with renal failure.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Cardiovascular Risk Factors
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a crucial renal replacement therapy for children.
- Lipid profiles and albumin levels are vital indicators of metabolic health and cardiovascular risk in pediatric patients.
- Understanding these parameters in young PD patients is essential for long-term health management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document serum lipid values in pediatric peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, especially the very young.
- To investigate the relationship between serum lipid levels and serum albumin in these patients.
- To assess the impact of PD on lipid profiles and albumin levels over time.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric PD patients over an 11-year period.
- Inclusion criteria required at least four simultaneous measurements of serum lipids and albumin over a minimum of 90 days of PD.
- Analysis included patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD), with a focus on those under 5 years old.
Main Results:
- Hypoalbuminemia was prevalent (43%), most marked in younger CAPD patients.
- Average serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly elevated compared to age-appropriate norms.
- Low high-density lipid levels were observed in a substantial proportion of patients.
- These abnormalities remained largely unchanged during PD treatment across all groups.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric PD patients, including very young children, have a high incidence of hypoalbuminemia and dyslipidemia (hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, low HDL).
- These metabolic abnormalities persist throughout PD treatment and were not significantly altered.
- Abnormal lipid profiles represent a neglected cardiovascular risk factor in children with renal failure, necessitating therapeutic interventions.
Objective:
To document serum lipid values in pediatric peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, particularly the very young, and investigate relationships with serum albumin levels.
Design:
Retrospective review of all PD patients seen in the first 11 years of the PD program at our institution.
Patients And Methods:
Any pediatric PD patient was eligible for inclusion if at least four simultaneous measurements of serum lipids and albumin were recorded over a minimum of 90 days of PD.
Results:
Thirty-nine continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients (9, aged < 5 years) and 14 continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) patients (7, aged < 5 years) were followed for 90-1200 days. Hypoalbuminemia, present in 43% of initial recordings, did not alter significantly during PD in any group; it was most marked in the CAPD < 5 year (mean 30.7 g/L) and CCPD > 5 year groups (mean 31.4 g/L). Average serum cholesterol levels were 27% higher, and triglyceride 122% higher, than the maximum accepted 18-year-old level and did not change significantly during PD. Similarly, 33% of high-density lipid recordings were below normal and remained unaltered during PD.
Conclusions:
Our results confirm the high incidence of hypoalbuminemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia and associated low levels of high-density lipids, even in young PD patients, and demonstrate that these remain unchanged during PD. Such results have not previously been reported in PD patients as young as ours. Abnormal lipid profiles are a neglected cardiovascular risk factor in children with renal failure; therapeutic interventions should therefore be seriously considered.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Nephrotic Syndrome II : Assessment and Medical Management
01:30Peritoneal Dialysis I: Introduction and Procedure
01:25Peritoneal Dialysis II: Peritoneal Dialysis Systems and Complications
01:20Acute Kidney Injury V: Interprofessional Care
01:28Diabetic Nephropathy
01:21Chronic Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology