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Renal function impairment and electrolyte disorders in hypothyroidism are frequently subtle and rarely observed in clinical practice. To assess the extent of these defects, serum concentration of electrolytes and glomerular filtration rate were estimated before and after thyroid replacement therapy in 41 patients with primary hypothyroidism. All patients had decreased glomerular filtration rates and 22 patients had increased serum creatinine levels. Although a relationship between creatinine clearance and serum thyrothropin-stimulating hormone was not found, a weak correlation between age and serum creatinine concentration was observed. Hyponatremia was documented in 45% of 22 patients with elevated serum creatinine but in only 21% of 19 patients with normal creatinine. All these defects were corrected by treatment with thyroid hormone. We conclude that creatinine clearance was slightly decreased in all patients with hypothyroidism, this decrease being more noticeable in elderly patients. The greater the impairment in renal function, the more common was the occurrence of hyponatremia.

Candida peritonitis was treated with fluconazole in ten continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients without immediate removal of the peritoneal catheter. Shortly prior to diagnosis, six patients (60%) had received broad-spectrum antibiotics. Gram stain of peritoneal fluid detected yeast in 70% of cases. In eight patients the peritoneal dialysis catheter was removed within one week of diagnosis because of clinical deterioration. In the majority of cases (90%), candida peritonitis resolved only after catheter removal in spite of ongoing fluconazole therapy. Fluconazole was well tolerated by all patients.

We have developed a catheter extension/continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) set (ANDY high flow set) of larger lumen (minimum internal diameter 3.25 mm), and compared peritoneal dialysate flow rates in two groups of 6 stable CAPD patients of comparable age, sex distribution, and time on dialysis according to type of catheter. Both groups were studied with two different extension/sets, standard ANDY and ANDY high flow set. The shortest infusion time was observed with the combination Cruz catheter/ANDY high flow set. The switch to a high flow set decreased significantly the inflow time of both types of catheter, and the infusion time of the Tenckhoff catheter/ANDY high flow combination approximated that of the Cruz/ANDY combination. Likewise, the dialysate outflow rates were highest with the Cruz catheter/ANDY high flow set than with any other catheter/set combination (p = 0.005). This was apparent, not only in the total outflow time, but also in the vol/min during the first 4 min (p = 0.005). None of the patients experienced discomfort during the dialysis exchanges with the high flow system. This combination of Cruz catheter/high flow set effectively reduces the dialysis exchange time and is very much appreciated by the patients.

The peritoneal clearance (Kp) and renal clearance (Kr) of beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2 m) were studied prospectively on 50 ESRD patients treated with CAPD, in order to determine the effect of the number of daily exchanges on Kp and to investigate the factors which influence the serum levels of beta 2m. Kr and Kp of beta 2m and creatinine (Cr) were calculated using standard formulae at the initiation of study and again at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months by collecting 24 hour urinary output and dialysate effluent. Kp of beta 2m of patients on 3 exchanges/day was .94 +/- .08 ml/min at the initiation of study and 1.1 +/- .08 at the end. For patients on 4 exchanges/day it was .99 +/- .14 ml/min and 1.1 +/- .12 respectively. There was no significant difference. Serum levels of beta 2m were lower on patients with significant residual renal function (RRF) (17 +/- .9 mg/L) than on patients without RRF (38 +/- 2 mg/L. p = .001). Serum levels of beta 2m correlated inversely with Kr of Cr and beta 2m at the initiation of study and at the end (r = .67 and .77 respectively, p = .0001). We conclude that serum levels of beta 2m correlate inversely with Kr of Cr and are expected to rise as RRF decreases. The combined peritoneal and renal excretion of beta 2m is less than its daily production. The number of dialysis exchanges does not influence Kp of beta 2m.

In order to test the efficacy of the Del Clamp as a contamination barrier, the following protocol was carried out. Sixty bags of dialysate (1.5 L, 1.5% Dextrose) were connected to matching disposable Y sets and 100 mL of dialysate allowed to flow into each drain bag, after which the clamps were closed. The bags were arranged in groups of 10 and each group was inoculated with 1 mL of a standard suspension of S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans, respectively. 3 bags were inoculated and left with the clamp open as controls. After 6 hr, incubation at 37 degrees C, 20 mL duplicate samples from each drain bag were centrifugated and processed for anaerobic and aerobic culture. None of the specimens taken from the sets grew bacteria or fungi. All the drain bags of the control sets grew the inoculated organism. We conclude that the Del Clamp makes CAPD safer by working as an effective contamination barrier and eliminating a potential for combination during the dialysis exchange.