Background/Aims: Since peritoneal membrane is more compatible and residual renal function better preserved during peritoneal dialysis, we questioned whether the oxidative burden in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is influenced by dialysis modality. Methods: 49 stable CKD patients, 17 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), 16 on hemodialysis (HD), and 16 non-dialyzed, and 13 healthy subjects were enrolled. Plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS; nmol/g protein), serum total antioxidant activity (TAA), total plasma-free thiols (Pt-SH; µmol/g protein), albumin and uric acid were measured by spectrophotometry. Serum residual antioxidant activity (RAA) was calculated. Results: TBARS were higher in HD (78.3 ± 20.3) versus both non-dialyzed (53.1 ± 27.9, p = 0.007) and CAPD groups (58.3 ± 19.8, p = 0.008). Pt-SH was reduced in CKD patients, but showed comparable values between dialysis groups. TAA and RAA were similarly increased in HD and CAPD patients than in the other two groups. Conclusion: Oxidative stress occurs in all CKD patients and worsens as renal function declines. Lipid peroxidation seems more augmented during chronic HD as compared to CAPD, but the plasma antioxidant status did not differ between the investigated dialysis methods. Therefore, dialysis modality appears to influence lipid peroxidation without changing the extracellular antioxidant defense of CKD patients.

Background This report describes the status of renal replacement therapy (RRT), particularly continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), in Romania (a country with previously limited facilities), outlines the fast development rate of CAPD, and presents national changes in a European context. Methods Trends in the development of RRT were analyzed in 2003 on a national basis using annual center questionnaires from 1995 to 2003. Survival data and prognostic risk factors were calculated retrospectively from a representative sample of 2284 patients starting RRT between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2001 (44% of the total RRT population investigated). Results The annual rate of increase in the number of RRT patients (11%) was supported mainly by an exponential development of the CAPD population (+600%); the hemodialysis (HD) growth rate was stable (+33%) and renal transplantation had a marginal contribution. The characteristics of both HD and PD incident patients changed according to current European epidemiology (increasing age and prevalence of diabetes and nephroangiosclerosis). There were significant differences between PD and HD incident populations, PD patients being significantly older and having a higher prevalence of diabetic nephropathy and baseline comorbidities, probably reflecting different inclusion policies. The estimated overall survival of RRT patients in Romania was 90.6% at 1 year [confidence interval (CI) 89.4 – 91.8] and 62.2% at 5 years (CI 59.4 – 65.0). The initial treatment modality did not significantly influence patients’ survival. There was no difference in unadjusted technique survival during the first 2 years; afterwards, there was a clear advantage for HD, with more patients being transferred from PD to HD. Several factors seemed to significantly and negatively influence PD patients’ survival (Cox regression analysis): male gender, lack of predialysis erythropoietin treatment, and initial comorbidities. Stratified analysis to discover the influence of these factors on patients’ survival revealed that HD was associated with an increased risk of death in the younger nondiabetic end-stage renal disease population, regardless of other coexisting comorbid conditions. However, in older patients (>65 years) and in diabetics, regardless of the presence or absence of associated comorbid conditions, there was no significant difference in death rates between HD and PD patients. Conclusions We report an impressive quantitative and qualitative development of CAPD in one of the rapidly growing Central and Eastern Europe countries. CAPD should be the method of choice for young nondiabetic end-stage renal disease patients. Improvement in predialysis nephrologic care and in transplantation rates is required to further ensure the ultimate success of the Romanian PD program.

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