title: The ratio of extracellular fluid to total body water and technique survival in peritoneal dialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients receiving peritoneal dialysis experience a high technique failure rate and are often overhydrated. We examined whether an increased extracellular fluid volume (VECF) as a proportion of the total body water (VTBW) predicted technique survival (TS) in a prevalent patient cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  The VECF and VTBW were estimated by multiple-frequency bioelectric impedance in 59 prevalent peritoneal dialysis patients (median time on dialysis 14 months). Demographic, biochemical (albumin, C-reactive protein, and ferritin), and anthropometric data, forearm muscle strength, nutritional score by three-point Subjective Global Assessment, residual renal function, dialysate-to-plasma (D/P) creatinine ratio, total weekly Kt/V urea, total creatinine clearance, normalized protein equivalent of nitrogen appearance, and midarm muscle circumference were also assessed. Technique survival was determined at 3 years, and significant predictors of TS were sought.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patient groups defined by falling above or below the median value for each parameter, only residual renal function (p = 0.002), 24-hour ultrafiltrate volume (p = 0.02), and VECF/VTBW ratio (p = 0.05) were significant predictors of TS. Subjects with a higher than median VECF/VTBW ratio had a 3-year TS of 46%, compared to 78% in subjects with a lower than median value. In multivariate analysis, systolic blood pressure and VECF/VTBW ratio (both p < 0.05) were significant predictors of TS. C-reactive protein approached significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased ratio of extracellular fluid volume to total body water is associated with decreased TS in peritoneal dialysis.
authors.affiliation: Renal Unit, York Hospital, York, United Kingdom. colinjones@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Colin H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Charles G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Newstead
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001834:Body Water; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D015314:Dialysis Solutions / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017097:Electric Impedance; D045604:Extracellular Fluid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D015314:Dialysis Solutions; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003404:Creatinine