Peritoneal Equilibration test (PET) in Korean Patients - Single Center Experience

Hwang, Eun Ah; Kwak, Jin Ho; Hong, Yoon Soo; Jin, Kyu Bok; Sung, Jung Hoon; Han, Seung Yeup; Park, Sung Bae; Kim, Hyun Chul

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal solute transport rate, assessed by PET, varies widely among patients and has been shown to differ significantly among different ethnic groups. The aim of the present study is to investigate the peritoneal transport characteristics in Korean peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and factors that predict peritoneal transport status.
METHODS
Between May 2001 and February 2006, 141 patients on PD performed a standard 4-hour PET within the first 6 months after initiation of PD therapy.
RESULTS
Of these 141 patients, there were 71males and 70 females. The mean age of the patients was 51.2+/-12.5 years and the etiology of renal failure was diabetes in 67 patients (47.5%). The mean 4-hour D/P creatinine ratio was 0.68+/-0.11. Compared with a mean of 0.65+/-0.15 as determined by Twardowski et al, our patients have significantly higher mean solute transport rate (p<0.05). Numbers of low (L), low-average (LA), high-average (HA), and high (H) transporters were 15 (10.6%). 68 (48.2 %), 53 (37.6%) and 5 (3.5%), respectively. However, according to our own data, the number of L, LA, HA and H were 18 (12.8%), 42 (29.8%), 64 (45.4%) and 17 (12.1%), respectively, significantly different from those classified by Twardowski et al. In univariate analysis, older age, hypoalbuminemia and lower BMI were predictive of high transport status. Using multiple linear regression, only hypoalbuminemia was independently predictive of higher 4-hour D/Pcr (p=0.000).
CONCLUSION
Korean PD patients have a higher mean solute transport rate than Twardowskis data, and serum albumin is an independent predictor of high transport status. Further prospective studies with a large number of patients are needed for evaluating the diversity of peritoneal transport characteristics in different ethnic populations.