Association between protein energy wasting and peritoneal membrane transport in peritoneal dialysis

Abstract Background: fast peritoneal transport (FT) has been associated with peritoneal albumin loss and protein energy wasting (PEW); however, this relationship has not been fully studied. Aim: the aim of this study was to analyze the differences in nutritional parameters between fast-transport peritoneal membrane (FT-PET) and slow-transport peritoneal membrane (ST-PET), and analyze the association between FT-PET and PEW in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Methods: a cross-sectional study of patients on PD. Peritoneal transport characteristics were assessed using the peritoneal equilibration test (PET). Malnutrition inflammation score (MIS) was used for PEW identification. Clinical and biochemical characteristics between patients with and without PEW were assessed. Association between FT-PET status and PEW were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: a total of 143 patients were included. FT-PET group showed a higher prevalence of hypoalbuminemia, edema, lower phase angle, lower energy intake, and higher values of MIS score. FT-PET was significantly associated with PEW on univariate (OR: 3.5, 95 % CI: 1.56-7.83, p = 0.002) and multivariate models (OR: 2.6, 95 % CI: 1.02-6.6, p = 0.04). This association was maintained in patients where baseline PET was performed after initiating PD therapy (OR: 6.2, 95 % CI: 1.01-38.6, p = 0.04). Conclusion: FT-PET is associated with PEW evaluated by MIS score. Clinical trials to study nutritional interventions personalized to peritoneal-membrane transport characteristics should be designed.