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OBJECTIVE: The most lethal complication of peritoneal dialysis is encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS), which develops as a result of epithelio-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and known fibrotic processes. Paricalcitol has previously been shown to inhibit both EMT and fibrosis. We investigated the effect of paricalcitol on EPS.
MATERIAL and METHODS: Forty non-uremic albino Wistar rats divided into four groups of equal numbers. The first group was administered 2 mL saline intraperitoneally (IP) and the second group was administered 2 mL of 200 gram chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) (0.1%) dissolved in saline and ethanol (15%) IP. The treatment groups received CG for three weeks in addition to subcutaneous paricalcitol at a dose of 0.2 mcg/kg/day to the third group and 0.4 mcg/kg/day to the fourth group. A one-hour peritoneal equilibration test was performed with 25 mL 3.86% PD solution at the end of the study. Peritoneal membrane and intracardiac blood samples were obtained.
RESULTS: D/P urea was significantly low in both treatment groups when compared to group 2 (p<0.05). Paricalcitol co-treatment recovered ultrafitration failure and peritoneal membrane thickness was better paricalcitol groups but there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Serum calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone levels were similar in all groups.
CONCLUSION: Paricalcitol can be effective in the protection of peritoneal functions.