Incidence and Clinical Presentations of Eosinophilic Peritonitis in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: Experience in a Medical Center

BACKGROUND. Although peritonitis is commonly caused by microorganism, eosinophilic peritonitis was reportedly in 1980s. Whether eosinophilic peritonitis has significant effect on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD ) patients remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and clinical presentations of eosinophilic peritonitis in CAPD patients with first episode of peritonitis. METHODS. Retrospectively, 144 of 428 CAPD patients in our hospital with first episode of peritonitis from Jan, 1999 to April, 2007 were enrolled for analysis. RESULTS. Among the 144 CAPD patients with first episode of peritonitis, there are 105 cases (72.92%) of bacterial peritonitis (including 64 cases with Gram positive bacteria, 34 cases with Gram negative bacteria, and 7 cases with mixed bacteria cultured), 1 (0.69%) tuberculosis bacteria peritonitis, 2 (1.39%) fungus peritonitis and 36 (25%) sterile peritonitis. Four of these 144 cases (2.78%) of peritonitis are eosinophilic peritonitis. The duration from initiation of CAPD to first peritonitis, abdominal pain, and dialysate white blood cell count is significantly shorter in the group of eosinophilic peritonitis. Hence, duration from initiation of CAPD to first peritonitis, abdominal pain and eosinophil count in dialysate may be a good parameter for differential diagnosis from non-eosinophilic peritonitis. Medication may not be helpful for asymptomatic eosinophilic peritonitis. CONCLUSION. Patients with eosinophilic peritonitis are usually asymptomatic except for increased dialysate white blood cell count. The clinical course is generally benign. (Acta Nephrologica