Suitable Dialytic Indicators for Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: The Alternative to Creatinine Clearance

Abstract

← Objective Owing to the discord between body weight and body surface area (BSA), creatinine clearance (CCr) is predisposed to be small in pediatric patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Alternatively, Kt/V creatinine (Kt/V creat), which is normalized to total body water (TBW) rather than BSA, could be a better dialytic indicator. In this study, the efficiency of dialysis and the nutritional status of pediatric patients on chronic PD were examined, and the utility of dialytic indicators was evaluated. ← Patients and Methods 49 patients under 20 years old, in stable condition, and on PD were analyzed. Weekly total Kt/V of urea (Kt/V urea), CCr, Kt/V creat, and normalized protein equivalent of nitrogen appearance (nPNA) were measured for all patients and for patients under 6 years old. The target value was 2.0/week for Kt/V urea and 60 L/week/1.73 m2 for CCr, as recommended by the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines. The target value for Kt/V creat was set as 1.52/week, using a male model with a height of 170 cm and a body weight of 65 kg. ← Results The mean values of delivered Kt/V urea, CCr, Kt/V creat, and nPNA (and proportion of patients that achieved each target value) for all patients were 2.25 ± 0.57/week (67.4%), 53.8 ± 19.3 L/week/1.73 2m (26.5%), 1.83 ± 0.73/week (65.3%), and 1.11 ± 0.42 g/day, respectively. The values for patients under 6 years old were 2.38± 0.26/week (90.0%), 45.9 ± 12.8 L/week/1.73 2m (10.0%), 1.94 ± 0.51/week (90.0%), and 1.52 ± 0.67 g/day, respectively. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that the relationship between CCr and Kt/V urea was affected by the patient's age. ← Conclusions Our pediatric patients achieved the recommended target value of Kt/V urea. At the same time, the nPNA results reflected the patient's status well. However, CCr appeared to be inappropriate as an indicator for patients under 6 years old. Kt/V creat is suggested to be a better dialytic indicator for these patients.