title: Immunosuppression in sclerosing peritonitis.
abstract: Sclerosing peritonitis (ScP) is a rare but fatal complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), presenting as small bowel obstruction. We have observed that only patients receiving a renal transplant survived more than a few months after the diagnosis of ScP. We now report prolonged survival of patients given immunosuppressive therapy with or without a functioning transplant. ScP was found at laparotomy in 17 Glasgow patients, 15 of whom had been exposed to chlorhexidine in alcohol. All patients discontinued CAPD after diagnosis. Within a year 12 died with recurrent bowel obstruction; none received immunosuppressive therapy. The remaining 5 patients received immunosuppressive therapy; 4 are alive between 1 and 9 years later, and one patient with widespread vascular disease died after 3 years with mesenteric ischemia. Four of the 5 received a renal transplant. One patient rejected his transplant; when immunosuppression was stopped he developed symptoms suggestive of recurrent ScP. Immunosuppressive therapy was restarted and he remains well 3 years later. The fifth patient, who did not receive a transplant, was immunosuppressed after ScP was diagnosed. She remains well 18 months later. Our experience suggests that immunosuppression is beneficial in ScP.
authors.affiliation: Renal Unit, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Junor
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McMillan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012598:Sclerosis
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine