title: Effects of peritoneal dialysis on the vascular bed of peritoneal membrane.
abstract: The vascularization of the peritoneal membrane is a key factor in the effectiveness of peritoneal dialysis as a dialysis modality. Over the last years, our understanding of how the peritoneal vasculature reacts to instillation of peritoneal dialysate has substantially improved. The changes in the structure of the peritoneal function over time on peritoneal dialysis as found in functional tests has been confirmed in biopsy studies performed on patients. These show both neoangiogenesis and fibrosis as the underlying morphological changes contributing to these phenomena. A thorough understanding of the biological processes involved in these alterations will be the clue for improvement of the treatment and a key to develop strategies to avoid these deformations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, St Jans Hospital, Brugge, Belgium.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Biesen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mortier
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lameire
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Vriese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology; D015314:Dialysis Solutions / Q000009:adverse effects; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008566:Membranes / Q000098:blood supply; D008853:Microscopy; D023421:Models, Animal; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D015314:Dialysis Solutions