How automated peritoneal dialysis is applied and maintained in Japan.

According to a nationwide statistical survey in Japan, only 9,858 patients (3.3% of dialysis patients) were on maintenance peritoneal dialysis (PD) at the end of 2009. In this survey, 8,635 patients answered questions about the PD method, while 1,223 patients did not respond. In Japan, at the end of 2009, 5,143 patients (59.6%) on PD were treated with CAPD and 3,492 patients (40.4%) on PD were treated with automated PD (APD). It is well known that around 20% of Japanese PD patients choose to apply and maintain PD + HD combination therapy. The number of PD + HD patients (1,569) accounted for 20.7% of the PD-treated patients (7,591). In Japan, patients with fluid overloading preferably select PD + HD combination therapy with or without icodextrin use. Young patients select APD while patients on PD suffered from fluid overloading with high transporter membrane. What then are the factors that effect APD selection in Japan? The use of various forms of APD has increased considerably in the past few years. Important factors that contribute to APD selection are better adjustment of APD to the patient's lifestyle and the flexibility that APD offers to patients. In addition, patients with APD will be able to have good quality of life (QOL). Young patients on PD select APD because of good QOL. It is well known that almost all of children younger than 19 years with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are undergoing APD. APD has a pivotal role in the management of pediatric patients with ESRD. Children on APD had a lower incidence of peritonitis compared with those with CAPD. The switch from CAPD to APD resulted in better ultrafiltration, less edema, lower mean arterial blood pressure, lower peritonitis rate and fewer hospital admissions. As in young patients, APD is also good method to select in elderly patients on PD. The need for the exchange to be performed by another person is increased in elderly and handicapped ESRD patients, however APD therapy is a good selection for them because of the smaller number of manipulations, resulting in a substantial reduction of help required. In the future, telemedicine systems with APD may be play an important role for young and elderly patients on PD.