Functional and Histological Changes of Peritoneal Membrane in Long-Term Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) has been widely accepted as a valid and safe alternative to hemodialysis.(1) In spite of this, recent findings about the effects of this treatment, performed over a long-term period, have shown that peritoneal membrane is susceptible to impairment on its ultrafiltration (UF),(2,3) and with time to histological changes. This behavior of peritoneal membrane might be related to sensitivity toward various stimuli (chemical, physical, bacteriological).