Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis Occurring in a Hemodialysis Patient

Encapsulating peritoneal fibrosis (EPF) is a serious, uncommon complication of chronic peritoneal dialysis. However, it is rare in hemodialysis patients. EPF is characterized by peritoneal membrane inflammation followed by peritoneal membrane fibrosis and encapsulation. The etiology is unclear, but inflammation of the deteriorated peritoneum causes peritoneal fibrosis. We present a case of EPF that occurred in a 29-year-old man with hepatitis B-associated liver cirrhosis with ascites that was treated solely with hemodialysis. We managed this patient surgically and then medically with prednisolone. To our knowledge, this is the first such case in Korea, so we report this case with a literature review. (Korean J Med 2013;85:629-633)