Short-term peritoneal rest reduces peritoneal solute transport rate and increases ultrafiltration in high/high average transport peritoneal dialysis patients: a crossover randomized controlled trial

Background. The peritoneal solute transport rate (PSTR) tends to increase over time in some patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD), potentially leading to ultrafiltration (UF) failure. Previous case reports have shown a significant decrease in PSTR and subsequent recovery of UF after discontinuing PD for a while. Therefore, we conducted a randomized controlled crossover study to evaluate the impact of short-term peritoneal rest on PSTR. Methods. The study involved 14 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients with high/high-average transport rate. Two groups were randomly assigned different treatment sequences: one group underwent daily intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD) for 4 weeks followed by CAPD, while the other group initially received CAPD treatment for 4 weeks and then switched to IPD. Peritoneal equilibration tests were performed before and after each treatment to evaluate PSTR and paired t-tests were used to compare the changes. Volume load, serum potassium and other clinical indicators were monitored at the same time. Results. Short-term peritoneal rest (daily IPD) significantly reduced PSTR, with a decrease in the dialysate:plasma creatinine ratio from 0.71 +/- 0.05 to 0.65 +/- 0.07 (P < .001). Additionally, ultrafiltration significantly increased from 210 +/- 165 ml to 407 +/- 209 ml (P = .001). But there were no significant changes in interleukin-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor of PD effluent. No serious adverse events such as hypotension or hyperkalaemia occurred. Conclusions. In PD patients with high and high-average transport, a 4-week period of short-term peritoneal rest by switching from CAPD to IPD (without long dwell) can lead to reductions in PSTR and increases in UF volumes, while maintaining clinical safety.