Abstract: During peritoneal dialysis, the peritoneum is used as a dialysis membrane. Peritoneal solute transport function is closely related to adequacy of the peritoneal dialysis and prognosis of the patients. There is greater heterogeneity in the baseline peritoneal solute transport status and the changes of peritoneal solute transport rate (PSTR) after dialysis. Significant difference in PSTR is also present in different geographic regions and ethnic groups. In responses to various stimuli, the peritoneum produces more inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic factors, leading to changes of peritoneal blood flow, angiogenesis and vasculapathy. Subsequently transport rate for small solutes increases owing to the increase of effective peritoneal vascular surface. Recently, several researchers have performed the association study of PSTR (initial and longitudinal PSTR changes) with candidate genes. Polymorphisms in the candidate genes encoding inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β1 and encoding inflammation and angiogenesis related factors such as ENOS, RAGE and VEGF were found to be related to initial and longitudinal PSTR changes. Results of current studies have suggested the effect of genetic factors on peritoneal transport function, but the role of these factors needs to be identified in different population groups and races. Genome-wide association study may help discover new genes, contribute to further understand the genetic characteristics of peritoneal solute transport, and provide clues for the study of peritoneal transport function and the improvement of peritoneal transport function in patients.

Key words: peritoneal solute transport, genetic mechanism