The effects of pentoxifylline on peritoneal functions and cytokine levels in patients followed with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Background and Aims: Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis is morefrequently used as renal replacement therapy for end stage renal failure patients at lastyears. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of pentoxifylline on cytokines andpermeability of peritoneum in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.Methods: In this study twenty-one patients with peritoneal dialysis followed atÇukurova University Department of Internal Medicine Division of Nephrology, wereincluded. Patients with active infection, active heart failure, peritonitis, mechanicproblems as herniation or catheter function, were excluded. Written informed concentwas taken from the patients for inclusion into this study. Pentoxifylline was given2x400 mg daily for three weeks in addition to the standart therapy. All of the patientcharacteristics such as age, sex, accompanied disease, duration of peritoneal dialysis,edema, body weight, drugs were recorded. Peritoneal equilibration test test was donebefore and after pentoxifylline therapy. Kt/V and creatinine clearance were calculated.Peritoneal transport type, ultrafiltrate and urine volumes and peritoneal sodiumexcretion were determined. SPSS 18. 0 statistical analysis was used for comparison ofthe parameters before and after Pentoxifylline administration.Results: There was no difference for the Kt/V, creatinin clearence, the serumand peritoneal dialysate levels of BUN, creatinin, sodium, albumin, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10,TNF-alpha, beta-2 microglobulin between baseline and after the pentoxifylline therapy.Additionally, there was no difference for measured parameters in diabetic and nondiabeticgroups. Relationships between peritoneal sodium excretion and Kt/V,ultrafiltration and sum of urine volume-ultrafiltrate were not found. There wasstatistically significant negative correlation between serum albumin and serum IL-10levels at baseline and after pentoxifylline therap (p; 0,049).Conclusion: As a result high level of serum albumin was protective toinflamation. Pentoxifylline was not found to be effective in peritoneal permeability.This may be related due to short duration of pentoxifylline therapy and/or relativelysmall number of the patients.Key words: Cytokins, End stage renal failure, Pentoxifylline, Peritoneal dialysis,