Objectives: The rate of decline of residual renal function is slower in peritoneal dialysis (PD) than in hemodialysis. However, it is unclear which and whether either of the two techniques modifies the natural course of renal failure. We tested whether PD influences the natural course of the progression of chronic renal failure in humans.
Design: Retrospective review of clinical charts.
Setting: Tertiary-care center.
Patients: Fourteen patients were selected from the 36 patients that were treated with PD in our center from January 1997 to June 2000, applying the following criteria: predialysis follow-up longer than 12 months, renal creatinine clearance 20 mL/minute or more at the start of predialysis follow-up, follow-up while on PD longer than 6 months, and renal creatinine clearance above 0 mL/minute at the start of PD.
Main outcome measure: Residual renal function calculated as renal creatinine clearance obtained from 24-hour urine samples.
Results: A lower mean rate of decline of residual renal function was observed during PD than during the predialysis period (-0.06 +/- 0.16 vs -0.94 +/- 0.74 mL/min/month, p < 0.0005). The rate of decline in renal creatinine clearance was faster in every patient during the predialysis period than during his or her time on PD.
Conclusions: These preliminary data support the hypothesis that PD may contribute to the slowing of the natural progression of renal disease in humans, as it does in rodents. Prospective studies involving a larger number of patients are needed to settle the question.