Peritoneal dialysis effectively removes toxic substances and improves liver functions of liver failure patients

W.-X. Zhao, X.-M. Liu, C.-M. Yu, H. Xu, J.-R. Dai, H.-Y. Chen, L. Li, F. Chen, Y.-L. Ou, Z.-K. Zhao

Nephrology Department, People’s Hospital of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Chuxiong, China. zhaowenxi098@yeah.net

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: Liver failure (LF) is a clinically complex disorder that characterizes with hepatic dysfunction. This study aimed at observing the therapeutic effects of peritoneal dialysis on liver function in LF patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study involves 62 patients diagnosed as LF hospitalized from February 2005 to December 2016. The 62 LF patients were randomly divided into 3 groups, including artificial liver applying plasma exchange group (PE, n = 28), peritoneal dialysis group (PD, n = 22), and conservative treatment group (CT, n=12). Laboratory indexes, including serum total bilirubin (TBiL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin (ALB), blood ammonia (AMMO), international normalized ratio (INR), and creatinine (Cr) were evaluated. Inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and procalcitonin (PCT) were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.

RESULTS: Peritoneal dialysis significantly improves clinical outcomes, including decreased mortality, increased survival rate and total effective rate, compared to conservative treatment (p < 0.05). Peritoneal dialysis reduced hospitalization expenses compared to PE method and conservative treatment (p < 0.05). Peritoneal dialysis significantly removed toxic substances (including TBiL, AMMO, Cr) compared to conservative treatment (p < 0.05). The post-treatment level of Cr in peritoneal dialysis group was significantly lower compared to post-treatment level of Cr in PE group (p < 0.05). Peritoneal dialysis significantly improved liver function compared to conservative treatment (p < 0.05). Peritoneal dialysis prevented bleeding tendency compared to conservative treatment (p < 0.05). Peritoneal dialysis alleviated inflammatory response compared to conservative treatment (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneal dialysis effectively removed toxic substances and improved liver functions of liver failure patients and with a lower therapeutic cost.

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