Background: Volume overload is a common problem in peritoneal dialysis patients and may contribute to the high cardiac mortality in this patient population. Controlling volume status is difficult due to the lack of appropriate and accurate assessment of dry weight. This randomized, controlled study was conducted to test if the recent use of overhydration value (OH) provided by bioimpedance spectroscopy and patients’ education would help to control overhydration. Methods: 160 continuous ambulatory peritoneal patients were included in this study. All the patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups: in Group 1 the patients and their primary nurses were informed of the OH values provided by bioimpedance spectroscopy whereas in Group 2 the values were not revealed and patients’ volume was measured by the standard methods. Fluid status was evaluated by means of repeated bioimpedance analysis and clinical assessment. Urine volume, blood pressure and use of antihypertensive medications were recorded. Results: There were no differences in gender, age, diabetes, height, weight and clinical hydration status between the 2 groups at the baseline. In Group 1, OH (p < 0.05), extracellular volume and the extracellular volume to intracellular volume ratio decreased steadily during the 3-month follow-up. On the contrary, all 3 parameters increased significantly in Group 2. SBP decreased significantly in Group 1 but increased significantly in Group 2. Conclusion: Our study shows that the use of OH as determined by bioimpedance spectroscopy may facilitate volume control in peritoneal dialysis patients.

BackgroundThe main hypothesis of this study is that neutral pH, low glucose degradation product (GDP) peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluid better preserves residual renal function in PD patients over time compared with conventional dialysate.Methods/DesignInclusion criteria are adult PD patients (CAPD or APD) aged 18-81 years whose first dialysis was within 90 days prior to or following enrolment and who have a residual GFR ≥ 5 ml/min/1.73 m2, a urine output ≥ 400 ml/day and an ability to understand the nature and requirements of this trial. Pregnant or lactating patients or individuals with an active infection at the time of enrolment, a contra-indication to PD or participation in any other clinical trial where an intervention is designed to moderate rate of change of residual renal function are excluded. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive either neutral pH, low GDP dialysis solution (Balance®) or conventional dialysis solution (Stay.safe®) for a period of 2 years. During this 2 year study period, urinary urea and clearance measurements will be performed at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months. The primary outcome measure will be the slope of residual renal function decline, adjusted for centre and presence of diabetic nephropathy. Secondary outcome measures will include time from initiation of peritoneal dialysis to anuria, peritoneal small solute clearance, peritoneal transport status, peritoneal ultrafiltration, technique survival, patient survival, peritonitis rates and adverse events. A total of 185 patients has been recruited into the trial.DiscussionThis investigator-initiated study has been designed to provide evidence to help nephrologists determine the optimal dialysis solution for preserving residual renal function in PD patients.Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Number: ACTRN12606000044527

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