When the color of peritoneal dialysis effluent can be used as a diagnostic tool.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) effluent is normally transparent. A change in its appearance may be the first indication of an intra- or extraperitoneal abnormality which may or may not be related to the peritoneal dialysis technique itself. What diagnosis should be considered when PD effluent turns on red, orange, cloudy, milky white, green, yellow, purple or black in color? After review of the literature, we propose a differential diagnosis, as well as some management recommendations, for specific abnormal color presentations of the PD effluent.

Peritoneal Dialysis for AKI in Cameroon: Commercial vs Locally-Made Solutions.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in low- and middle-income countries, and is associated with a high mortality. The high mortality rate is in large part due to the inability to perform dialysis in resource-limited settings. Due to significant cost advantages, peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been used to treat AKI in these settings. The costs, however, remain high when commercial solutions are used. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of the outcome, and of the peritonitis rates, of patients with AKI treated with either commercially manufactured PD solutions or locally-made PD solutions. A program to treat AKI with PD was started at Mbingo Baptist Hospital in Cameroon. Between May 2013 and January 2015, solutions and connection sets were provided by the Saving Young Lives Program. From January 2015 through March 2017, solutions were locally produced and available tubing was used. RESULTS: Mortality in hospitalized AKI patients was 28% during the period when commercial solutions and tubing were utilized, and 33% when locally produced solutions and available tubing were utilized. In both groups, peritonitis occurred in 16% of treatment courses. CONCLUSIONS: Locally produced PD solutions, used with locally available tubing, were used to treat AKI with PD. The mortality and peritonitis rates were similar whether locally produced or commercial supplies were used.

How to reduce 3-deoxyglucosone and acetaldehyde in peritoneal dialysis fluids.

OBJECTIVE: 3-Deoxyglucosone (3-DG) and acetaldehyde were found to be the major reactive carbonyl compounds in conventional heat-sterilized peritoneal dialysis fluids (PDFs). The aim of this study was to identify factors in the production of PDFs promoting or inhibiting the formation of acetaldehyde and 3-DG. DESIGN: Single-chamber bag PDFs with different buffer systems and pH values were analyzed for acetaldehyde. 3-Deoxyglucosone was determined in double-chamber bag PDFs with different pH values, in commercially available samples, and in double-chamber products stored under defined conditions. RESULTS: Acetaldehyde was found in the presence of lactate and malate, whereas in 2-hydroxybutanoate-buffered solution propionaldehyde was detected instead. Between pH 5.0 and 6.0 the acetaldehyde content in lactate-buffered solutions increased strongly. The concentration of 3-DG in the chamber containing glucose In double-chamber bags increased between pH 3.0 and 5.0 by a factor of 6. 3-Deoxyglucosone concentrations in commercially available products vary greatly, reflecting the different pH values of these products. A time- and temperature-dependent reaction leads to a reduction in 3-DG and an increase in 5-hydroxymethyl-furan-2-carbaldehyde during storage. CONCLUSION: Acetaldehyde is produced by a reaction that requires both lactate and glucose. Thus, its formation can be prevented by a separation of the reaction partners, glucose and lactate, in a double-chamber bag. In double-chamber bags, pH greatly influences the formation of 3-DG. Minimal formation is observed in the region of pH 3.0. This finding should be taken into account for the development of new double-chamber bag PDFs.

Convective treatments with on-line production of replacement fluid: a clinical experience lasting 6 years.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of techniques with on-line (OL) production of replacement fluid by filtration of dialysis fluid raises concerns about exposure of dialysis patients to pyrogenic substances. This work was undertaken to evaluate safety and feasibility of OL preparation of replacement fluid for haemodiafiltration (HDF). METHODS: OL HDF was carried out with commercially available monitors without any adjustment in the operational organization of our Centre. Bicarbonate dialysis fluid was filtered twice before being reinjected into the patients. The effects of acute load of OL fluid were assessed by very sensitive in vitro and in vivo tests; the chronic effects were assessed by monitoring the patients for the appearance of any untoward clinical manifestations and by measuring their cytokine response. RESULTS: In a pilot study the membrane filter culture technique of replacement fluid yielded no bacteria or mycetes growth, while LAL test was < 0.01 EU/ml. The normal human monocyte production of TNF alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-1Ra was not significantly different when cells were incubated with OL or commercial replacement fluid. The patients' body temperature profile (continuous recording during treatments and the following 24 h) overlapped with that of the control procedure. Over 6 years we performed 4284 OL treatments (total amount reinjected fluid 102,900 litres) on 13 patients treated for 26 +/- 9 months. In none of these treatments did we observe pyrogenic reactions. In comparison with the previous period on standard bicarbonate haemodialysis, OL HDF afforded significantly better cardiovascular tolerance to fluid removal and higher Kt/V values. The nutritional status did not deteriorate, while the acute-phase reactants and serum beta 2M levels did not increase. Moreover, no translucent cysts or destructive arthropathy were observed on bone X-rays. The patients' plasma cytokine levels and monocytes cytokines production, measured either before or after a single OL HDF, were comparable with the values obtained in controls treated with standard HDF. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that OL-prepared replacement fluid is as safe as that of the commercial bags with regard to sterility and non-pyrogenicity. OL HDF can be readily implemented in any dialysis centre without bringing any further burden on the staff.

[Personal preparation of bicarbonate solutions--cost comparison and quality control]. / Selbstherstellung von Hydrogenkarbonatlösungen--Kostenvergleich und Qualitätskontrolle.

Haemodialysis with bicarbonate dialysate is well established in the treatment of chronic renal failure. The costs of bicarbonate haemodialysis are higher than acetate haemodialysis. Commercially available bicarbonate solutions are sold from AS 129.- to AS 189.- per 8 litre canister (December 1987). The self-prepared solution contains 650 g bicarbonate (for AS 8.-) in 8 litres of deionized water. In 10 patients on regular dialysis treatment haemodialysis were performed with both commercially available and self-prepared solutions for a 3 week period. Blood and dialysate samples were obtained before and 10 minutes, 1 h, 2 h, 3 h and 4 h after starting haemodialysis. Osmolality, Na+, K+, Cl-, pO2, pCO2 and pH were measured in the dialysate and in the serum, as well as serum lactate levels. There were no significant differences and the biochemical changes were similar with both preparations. In our centre with about 4000 bicarbonate dialyses yearly, AS 500,000.- to AS 700,000.- could be saved by self preparation of the dialysate.