Impact of automated peritoneal dialysis on initial graft function after renal transplantation.

In this retrospective study, we evaluated the impact of automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) on initial graft function after cadaveric renal transplantation. Each patient on APD was matched for donor age, donor serum creatinine, and cold ischemia time with one control patient on HD. The study sample consisted of 67 cases and 67 controls. The rate of delayed graft function--defined as a need for dialysis within the first week following renal transplantation-was 16% in the APD group and 10% in the HD group [p = nonsignificant (NS)]. The proportion of patients with a creatinine clearance below 10 mL/min 6 days after renal transplantation was 7% in the APD group and 3% in the HD group. Of the 67 APD patients, 12 had slow graft function as compared with 13 of the 67 HD patients (p=NS). Weight changes 3 days after transplantation were +2.1% +/- 3.7% of dry weight in HD patients and -0.1% +/- 4.6% of dry weight in APD patients (p < 0.05). The total amount of fluid infused during the surgical procedure was similar in the two groups (55.8 +/- 14.3 mL/kg vs. 60.7 +/- 14.8 mL/kg). Compared with HD, APD was not associated with a lower rate of delayed graft function.