Peritoneal Equilibration Test

Peritoneal transfer rates of urea, creatinine, glucose, protein potassium, and sodium as well as drain and residual volumes were measured during 103 equilibration tests performed in 18 diabetic and 68 nondiabetic patients. Equilibration test was performed over a 4-hour dwell exchange with 2 L of 2.5% Dianeal solution. Excellent reproducibility was seen after tests were standardized for length of preceding exchange, times of inflow and drainage, patient position, methods of obtaining and processing samples and laboratory assays. Diabetics did not have lower peritoneal solute transfers than nondiabetics. Wide variations were found in the study population. Measurements of creatinine, glucose and sodium transfer were particularly useful in predicting the patient's response to the standard CAPO. The patients with highaverage peritoneal solute transport did well on standard CAPO even after losing residual renal function. Patients with high peritoneal solute transfer rates were likely to have inadequate ultrafiltration on standard CAPO. These patients did much better on dialysis modalities with short dwell exchanges, i.e. nightly peritoneal dialysis (NPO) or daytime ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (OAPO). Patients with low average, and particularly low peritoneal transport rates were likely to develop symptoms and signs of inadequate dialysis as their residual renal function became negligible, particularly in individuals with high body surface area. Repeated tests were helpful in evaluating causes of insufficient ultrafiltration and/or inadequate dialysis.