Eicosanoids are biologically active molecules that are created in the process of oxidation of arachidonic acid (AA) which is a constituent of the cell membrane phospholipids. Throughout the years it was evidenced by experiments that the lipid and lipid-derived metabolites play an important role in physiological and pathological processes in the kidneys. They are being considered as biomarkers in detecting acute kidney injury, nephrotoxicity, glomerulonephritis and early stages of diabetic nephropathy because of their participation in inflammatory processes and in oxidative stress. They might be also considered as potential novel targets of therapy. However, the role of eicosanoids is still not fully clear and needs to be explored in future studies. In this brief review, studies on the role of eicosanoids in physiological and pathological conditions, e.g. acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), and in different renal replacement therapies, including kidney transplantation, are being discussed.

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Purpose Systemic and intraperitoneal inflammation are characteristic features of patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD). Arginine vasopressin (AVP) and its surrogate marker copeptin play important roles in many pathophysiological processes in chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to assess if copeptin concentrations in plasma and dialysate were related to peritoneal transport parameters and residual renal function (RRF) in incident PD patients. Methods In 37 clinically stable incident PD patients (mean age 50 years, 68% women, 32% diabetes), a 4 h peritoneal equilibration test (PET) was performed 4–6 weeks after the onset of PD. Plasma (at 2 h of PET) and dialysate (at 4 h) concentrations of copeptin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined. Results Plasma (80.7 ± 37.3 pg/mL) and dialysate (33.2 ± 18.0 pg/mL) concentrations of copeptin were correlated ( R s = 0.52, p = 0.001). Plasma and dialysate copeptin concentrations were negatively correlated with renal function as assessed by renal Kt/V ( R s = − 0.38; p = 0.021 and R s = − 0.33; p = 0.047, respectively). At PET, dialysate copeptin negatively correlated with D/P creatinine ( R s = − 0.35, p = 0.033), and positively with D/D0 glucose ( R s = 0.33, p = 0.045) and ultrafiltration ( R s = 0.37, p = 0.024). Multivariate analysis showed that low dialysate copeptin ( β = –0.30, p = 0.049) and high dialysate IL-6 ( β = + 0.40, p = 0.012) were independent determinants of higher D/P creatinine. Conclusions Dialysate copeptin was negatively associated with D/P creatinine in incident PD patients suggesting a potential influence of copeptin or AVP on peritoneal solute transport rate that might involve vasoactive mechanisms.