Icodextrin Improves Metabolic and Fluid Management in High and High-Average Transport Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Background Icodextrin-based solutions (ICO) have clinical and theoretical advantages over glucose-based solutions (GLU) in fluid and metabolic management of diabetic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients; however, these advantages have not yet been tested in a randomized fashion. Objective To analyze the effects of ICO on metabolic and fluid control in high and high-average transport diabetic patients on continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD). Patients and Methods A 12-month, multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare ICO ( n = 30) versus GLU ( n = 29) in diabetic CAPD patients with high-average and high peritoneal transport characteristics. The basic daily schedule was 3 × 2 L GLU (1.5%) and either 1 × 2 L ICO (7.5%) or 1 × 2 L GLU (2.5%) for the long-dwell exchange, with substitution of 2.5% or 4.25% for 1.5% GLU being allowed when clinically necessary. Variables related to metabolic and fluid control were measured each month. Results Groups were similar at baseline in all measured variables. More than 66% of the patients using GLU, but only 9% using ICO, needed prescriptions of higher glucose concentration solutions. Ultrafiltration (UF) was higher (198 ± 101 mL/day, p < 0.05) in the ICO group than in the GLU group over time. Changes from baseline were more pronounced in the ICO group than in the GLU group for extracellular fluid volume (0.23 ± 1.38 vs –1.0 ± 1.48 L, p < 0.01) and blood pressure (systolic 1.5 ± 24.0 vs –10.4 ± 30.0 mmHg, p < 0.01; diastolic 1.5 ± 13.5 vs –6.2 ± 14.2 mmHg, p < 0.01). Compared to baseline, patients in the ICO group had better metabolic control than those in the GLU group: glucose absorption was more reduced (–17 ± 44 vs –64 ± 35 g/day) as were insulin needs (3.6 ± 3.4 vs – 9.1 ± 4.7 U/day, p < 0.01), fasting serum glucose (8.3 ± 36.5 vs –37 ± 25.8 mg/dL, p < 0.01), triglycerides (54.5 ± 31.9 vs –54.7 ± 39.9 mg/dL, p < 0.01), and glycated hemoglobin (0.79% ± 0.79% vs –0.98% ± 0.51%, p < 0.01). Patients in the ICO group had fewer adverse events related to fluid and glucose control than patients in the GLU group. Conclusion Icodextrin represents a significant advantage in the management of high transport diabetic patients on PD, improving peritoneal UF and fluid control and reducing the burden of glucose overexposure, thereby facilitating metabolic control.