The Diagnosis of Peritonitis in Patients on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis has developed in the last two decades into an important alternative to hemodialysis in the treatment of end-stage renal failure. Depending on the country, 5%-95% of end-stage renal disease patients entering maintenance therapy select this modality. While the method is still evolving (new osmotic agents, improvement of biocompatibility, etc.), its major hazard and most frequent cause of termination is the development of peritonitis during the treatment. Great improvements have also been made in this area. Peritonitis rates of two per year have been reduced by better connections and better management to 0.5 per year on the average. Still, the early and accurate diagnosis of peritonitis which leads to accurate and effective therapy remains an important part of the management of the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patient.