Red-Cell Survival in Patients on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An early rise in hematocrit due to an increase in red cell mass (RCM) and a decrease in plasma volume (PV) has been noted after six months of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The present study measured red-cell survival (RCS) together with RCM and PV at the beginning and after six months of CAPD in paired observations in 15 patients. RCM increased from 890 ± 98 to 1089 ± 142 ml (p < 0.05) and plasma volume decreased from 3026 ± 295 to 2936 ± 178 ml. Mean red-cellsurvival half life at the start was 22.3 ± 1.06 days and rose to 25.2 ± 1.15 days after six months (p < 0.05). The same results were observed in four diabetic patients on a non-glucose, glycerol-containing dialysate. This study demonstrates that, after six months of CAPD, not only do hematocrit and red cell mass improve but also the red-cell survival is prolonged. However, a correlation could not be demonstrated between the increase in red-cell mass and prolongation of red-cell survival.