Effect of peritonitis on plasma and dialysate alpha 1-acid glycoprotein concentrations in peritoneal dialysis patients

Abstract

The effect of peritonitis on plasma and dialysate alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) concentrations was determined. Plasma and dialysate samples were obtained at the onset of infection and one month after treatment from 10 peritoneal dialysis patients with peritonitis. Plasma and dialysate samples were also obtained from 10 noninfected matched controls. Sampling was repeated after a minimum of one month. Samples were assayed for AAG by radial immunodiffusion. The mean +/- S.D. plasma AAG concentrations for patients with peritonitis and for control patients were 152.4 +/- 30.9 mg/dL and 146.6 +/- 45.0 mg/dL, respectively (p > 0.05). The dialysate AAG concentrations for nine control patients were below the limit of detection. The mean +/- S.D. dialysate concentration for the nine infected patients with detectable AAG concentrations was 15.4 +/- 9.5 mg/dL. After successful antimicrobial therapy, dialysate AAG concentrations declined. There was no obvious correlation between dialysate white blood cell count and dialysate AAG concentration during peritonitis. Peritonitis increased dialysate AAG concentrations but had no effect on plasma AAG concentrations.