title: Can sonographic peritoneal thickness be used to follow pediatric patients on peritoneal dialysis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an effective and successful therapy for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, PD does not have a life-long effectiveness, and peritoneal membrane failure is commonly observed in long-term PD patients. We hypothesized that ultrasonography could be used to follow these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited two patient groups (age range 3-18 years), of whom 20 had ESRD with ongoing PD for ≥24 months (study group) and 20 were pre-dialysis non-ESRD patients (control group). None of the patients had peritonitis during the preceding 3 months, and none had a history of abdominal surgery or malignancy. We measured the sonographic thickness of the parietal peritoneum and obtained Doppler indices of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) by trans-abdominal ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peritoneal thickness as determined by sonography was significantly greater in the PD group than in the controls. The correlation between duration of PD and thickness of the peritoneal membrane was linear and statistically significant. We categorized all 20 patients as either rapid transporters or slow transporters for both creatinine and glucose. The peritoneal membranes of patients who were rapid transporters for both creatinine and glucose were significantly thicker than those of the slow transporters. No statistical difference was found between the Doppler indices of the SMA between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thickness of the parietal peritoneum as determined by sonography is associated with PD duration and transport characteristics. We conclude that ultrasonography is a non-invasive and practical method which can be useful for following PD patients.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Nephrology Department, Dr Sami Ulus Children Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. acaltik@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caltik
authors.forename: Sare Gülfem
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Akyüz
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bülbül
authors.forename: Gökçe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cinar
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erdogan
authors.forename: Gülay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demircin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D014508:Urea