Hyaluronan prevents the decreased net ultrafiltration caused by increased peritoneal dialysate fill volume

In the present study, we investigated (1) the effect of an increase in dialysate fill volume on peritoneal fluid and solute transport using a 1.36% glucose solution, and (2) the effect of intraperitoneal administration of hyaluronan on peritoneal transport characteristics when different fill volumes were used. A four-hour dwell study with frequent dialysate and blood sampling was performed in 26 male Sprague-Dawley rats with 131I albumin as the intraperitoneal volume marker. Each rat was injected intraperitoneally with 25 ml (group Con25, N = 6) or 40 ml (group Con40, N = 7) of 1.36% glucose dialysis solution alone or 25 ml (group HA25, N = 6) or 40 ml (Group HA40, N = 7) of 1.36% glucose dialysis solution with 0.01% hyaluronan. The peritoneal transport of fluid, glucose, urea, and total protein as well as the intraperitoneal hydrostatic pressure (IPP) with different fill volumes were evaluated. We found that IPP and peritoneal fluid absorption rate significantly increased with the increase in fill volume (P < 0.01), and therefore the net ultrafiltration volume was significantly lower in the Con40 group compared to the Con25 group despite a higher transcapillary ultrafiltration rate in the Con40 group. The addition of hyaluronan to dialysate significantly (P < 0.01) decreased the peritoneal fluid absorption rate (by 22% in HA25 vs. Con25 and by 29% in HA40 vs. Con40) and thus significantly increased the net peritoneal fluid removal. The diffusive mass transport coefficients for glucose, urea and total protein did not differ between the Con25 and Con40 groups or between the two hyaluronan groups as compared to their respective control groups. The peritoneal clearance of urea increased significantly in the high fill volume group (by 58% in Con40 vs. Con25) and in the two hyaluronan groups (by 21% in HA25 vs. Con25 and by 16% in HA40 vs. Con40). We conclude that: (1) An increase in dialysate fill volume using 1.36% glucose dialysis solution results in higher intraperitoneal hydrostatic pressure and higher peritoneal fluid absorption rate, and therefore lower net ultrafiltration. (2) Intraperitoneal addition of hyaluronan significantly decreases the peritoneal fluid absorption rate, and the decreasing effect is even more marked when a high fill volume is used. (3) Small solute clearances increase markedly with increases in fill volume, and then further increase by adding hyaluronan to the dialysate due to the increase in drainage volume. Thus, intraperitoneal administration of hyaluronan during a single peritoneal dialysis exchange may significantly increase the peritoneal fluid and solute removal by decreasing peritoneal fluid absorption, and may thereby prevent the decreased net ultrafiltration caused by an increase in dialysate fill volume.