Reduced glucose degradation products in bicarbonate/lactate-buffered peritoneal dialysis solutions produced in...

The aims of the current study were: (1) to determine the effects of peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions at different glucose concentrations on the growth of cultured cells; (2) to determine whether a bicarbonate/lactate-based solution, as a result of the configuration of its components during heat sterilization in a two-chambered bag, was lower in glucose degradation products than a corresponding lactate-based PD solution; and (3) to determine whether lower glucose degradation corresponded to a decreased inhibition of cell growth.

Growth inhibition of cells exposed to lactate-based PD solutions at three different glucose concentrations was determined. Bicarbonate/lactate-based and lactate-based solutions at high glucose concentration (3.86%) were further analyzed for presence of glucose degradation products and inhibition of cell growth.

Cell growth was determined by neutral red uptake, measured by optical density at 540 nm. Glucose degradation to acetaldehyde or fructose was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography.

Only 3.86% glucose lactate-based PD solution caused significant inhibition of cell growth (p < 0.05). The heat-sterilized, bicarbonate/dlactate-based solution (3.86% glucose) had lower levels of fructose and acetaldehyde than a conventional heat-sterilized, lactate-based solution with the same glucose concentration. Growth of cultured cells exposed to the bicarbonate/lactate-based solution was significantly improved (p < 0.05) over growth in the conventional solution.

The bicarbonate/lactate-based solutions, manufactured and heat-sterilized in two-chambered bags, were lower in glucose degradation products than that corresponding lactate-based PD solutions, and demonstrated improved in vitro biocompatibility as measured by the growth of cultured cells.