Mitogenic Effect of the Peritoneal Effluent on Mice Fibroblast Cultures in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Long-term continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment induces irreversible peritoneal changes in isolated patients; among these changes are the so-called sclerosing peritonitis.(1–3)Two etiologies have been related to this entity: acetate use in dialysate and repetitive peritonitis episodes,(4)but the majority of patients showing this complication did not demonstrate any etiological factor.(5,6) Because of the great individual susceptibility for suffering from this disease, it is possible that intrinsic factors could be implicated. Peritoneal mesothelial denudation and functional and other morphological changes have been described in CAPD patients(7, 8);these situations could induce a contact between dialysate and peritoneal connective fibroblasts. So, these cells could become stimulated in some patients or under circumstances conducive to peritoneal fibrosis. If dialysate or peritoneal effluent (PE) are stimulating for peritoneal fibroblast proliferation, some mesothelial abnormalities would lead to peritoneal fibrosis.