Changes in Peritoneal Coagulation and Fibrinolysis after Discontinuation of Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis

♦ Objectives To study changes in peritoneal function after transfer from chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) to hemodialysis (HD), especially the effects on peritoneal coagulation, fibrinolytic markers, and mesothelium. ♦ Design Prospective observational study. ♦ Setting A tertiary-care university hospital. ♦ Patients Nine patients who transferred from CPD to HD were enrolled in the study after giving fully informed consent. ♦ Methods After transfer to HD, the peritoneal cavity was lavaged with low glucose PD solution once per day through PD catheters left in place. Thrombin–antithrombin III complex (TAT) was measured serially as a marker of peritoneal coagulation. As fibrinolytic markers, fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (FDP) and plasmin–α2-antiplasmin complex (PIC) were assessed. Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) was measured as a marker of mesothelial cell mass. ♦ Results Levels of peritoneal TAT and FDP were much higher than plasma levels, indicating high local fibrin turnover. Transfer to HD induced a significant fall in mean peritoneal TAT, from 115.8 ± 52.1 to 60.7 ± 21.8 ng/mL, p < 0.05. Except for 1 patient with a 20-fold increase, mean peritoneal FDP decreased significantly, from 43.6 ± 11.1 to 19.6 ± 3.5 μg/mL, p < 0.05. Mean peritoneal PIC increased significantly, from 1.9 ± 0.4 to 3.9 ± 0.6 μg/mL, p < 0.05. Peritoneal CA125 increased from 156.4 ± 57.3 to 1426.2 ± 389.4 U/mL, p < 0.05. ♦ Conclusions Peritoneal fibrin turnover was accelerated on CPD and stabilized after transfer to HD. Transfer to HD also induced mesothelial regeneration.