title: The value of low-dose intraperitoneal immunoglobulin administration in the treatment of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peritonitis is a major complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The value of immunomodulatory therapeutic approaches and, especially, methods aimed at augmenting opsonization in the treatment of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis is unclear. In this study, the effect of intraperitoneal (IP) immunoglobulin (Ig) usage, as an approach for strengthening opsonization, was evaluated in CAPD peritonitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 24 patients with CAPD peritonitis. The patients were divided into two groups, A and B, each consisting of 12 patients. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of age, gender, CAPD duration, and peritonitis rate. Empiric antibiotic treatment was a 2-week IP ampicillin+sulbactam/netilmycin combination. Group B was additionally given low-dose IP IgG (2 mL = 320 mg) with every exchange. The dialysate leucocyte counts were obtained in both groups until the number was <100 cells/microL to monitor the response to peritonitis treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group A, the number of exchanges done until the dialysate leucocyte counts decreased to <100/mL was 13.9 +/- 1.4 and for group B 6.6 +/- 0.4 (p<0.001). The reduction in neutrophils was significantly faster in group B compared to group A (p<0.001). The number of exchanges until abdominal pain completely disappeared was 12.5 +/- 1.7 in group A and 5.6 +/- 0.7 in group B (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show that low-dose, continuous IP IgG administration in the treatment of PD-related peritonitis is safe and effective in shortening the treatment time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey. ecoban@akdeniz.edu.tr
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coban
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozdogan
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bozcuk
authors.forename: Fevzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ersoy
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015314:Dialysis Solutions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015314:Dialysis Solutions; D007074:Immunoglobulin G