Biocompatibility and New Fluids

T he biocompatibility of a procedure or treatment describes the effects it may have on the patient, locally or systemically. The less disturbance the therapy has on either the structure or the function of the individual, the more biocompatible it is said to be. In the field of peritoneal dialysis (PD), attention has been concentrated on the dialysate; but one also needs to consider the catheter, the materials used in the bag and tubing, and, finally, the additives to the fluid, if any.