Abstract: Objective To understand the influence of peritoneal transport function in patients at the beginning of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment on their survival rate. Methods We selected 94 CAPD patients who received CAPD for more than 3 months and examined the peritoneal equilibration test in the first 3 months of CAPD. Patients were then grouped into high transport group (H), higher transport than average group (HA), lower transport than average group (LA) and low transport group (L) based on the results of peritoneal equilibration test. Residual renal function, period of CAPD, clearance of creatinine (Ccr) and ultrafiltration function of the peritoneum were compared among the 4 groups. Results No significant difference in residual renal function existed among the 4 groups. Patients with higher peritoneal transport function showed higher Ccr (P<0.05) but less ultrafiltration function (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a significant difference in cumulative survival rate among the 4 groups, and the cumulative survival rate of group H and HA was lower than that of group LA (P=0.0026 and 0.0031, respectively). Conclusion CAPD patients with higher peritoneal transport function have the survival rate less than those with lower transport function. This fact cannot be explained based on the difference of clearance efficiency of small molecule solutes, but may be related to the better ultrafiltration function of peritoneum in LA group.

Key words: Peritoneal transport, Peritoneal equilibration test, Survival rate.