P1158DOES THE PERITONEUM SWELLS OR SHRINK DURING PERITONEAL DIALYSIS?
Authors: Waniewski Jacek , Stachowska-Pietka Joanna , Cherniha Roman , Lindholm Bengt 
Published: June 2020

Background and Aims

The width of the peritoneum (composed mainly of connective tissue and relatively free of vasculature) is increased in patients on peritoneal dialysis compared to healthy subjects. We investigated to what extent increased intraperitoneal (ip) hydrostatic and osmotic pressures following the infusion of dialysis fluid will change hydration status and width of the peritoneum.

Method

Using linear theory of poroelasticty, clinical data on transport parameters and experimental data on elastic characteristics of the interstitium, the relative change of the width of the poroelastic layer subject to the combined effect of external hydrostatic and effective osmotic pressures (that is, ideal osmotic pressure multiplied by reflection coefficient for osmotic agent) can be described as a function of effective pressure and elastic modulus of the layer: Lmod/L0 = 1/(1-deltaP*/lambda*), where L0 is initial thickness of the tissue, Lmod is modified thickness of the layer, deltaP* is change in effective combined pressure, and lambda* is the elastic modulus of the poroelastic material. The same formula describes also the change in fractional free fluid volume ratio, thetaF. The elastic modulus of the connective tissue was assumed to be 110 mmHg, as measured for the subcutaneous layer of the tip of mouse tail by Swartz et al (J Biomech, 1999), and reflection coefficient for glucose in the interstitium of 0.0035 as estimated by Stachowska-Pietka et al (NDT, 2019) from clinical data for patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Results

The ip hydrostatic pressure increases by 2-3 mmHg to 15 mmHg at rest depending on infused volume of dialysis fluid (and posture, body weight and location in abdominal cavity), and may increase to 100 mmHg during activities as coughing, whereas the osmotic pressure of glucose 3.86% dialysis fluid is around 400 mmHg above the osmotic pressure of plasma and interstitial fluid (in equilibrium with plasma). However, due to the low reflection coefficient of interstitium, the effective osmotic pressure of dialysis fluid minus the physiological value of interstitial osmotic pressure is only 1.4 mmHg, and is quickly decreasing with dwell time. Therefore, hydrostatic pressure is the dominant factor for interstitial hydration. Assuming ip pressure of 15 mmHg, the stretch of the peritoneum increases its equilibrium width (at 0 mmHg and isotonic interstitial fluid) by 15%. During physical activities peritoneum may transiently thicken even more.

Conclusion

The peritoneum becomes overhydrated after infusion of dialysis fluid, which increases interstitial hydrostatic pressure; the thickness and fractional free fluid volume of the peritoneum increase by 15% although transiently higher increases may occur following activities that increase intraperitoneal pressure. The mechanical changes in the peritoneum may contribute to the biological changes in cells present there, as fibroblasts and mesothelial cells. The swelling of the peritoneum is in agreement with the increase in the fractional free fluid volume of the intramuscular interstitium behind the peritoneum as reported by Zakaria et al (Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, 1999).