Simple peritoneal sclerosis and sclerosing peritonitis: related or distinct entities?

Aim: The etiopathogenesis of sclerosing peritonitis is still debated, with some sustaining that it is a rare form of progression of simple peritoneal sclerosis and others that it is a primitive form. The aim of the present research was to clarify this question. Material and Methods: 438 peritoneal biopsies from 253 patients were re-examined. 174 were obtained prior to peritoneal dialysis and 224 after various periods of dialysis. Forty biopsies were from peritoneal dialysis patients who developed sclerosing peritonitis. Peritoneal morphology was studied for signs of transition from simple sclerosis to sclerosing peritonitis. Results: Evidence was found sustaining the hypothesis that simple sclerosis to sclerosing peritonitis patients have distinct pathologies. Conclusions: The results confirm previous observations, excluding the existence of any type of relation between simple peritoneal sclerosis to sclerosing peritonitis.