Quantitative and qualitative changes of serum albumin in CAPD patients.

This study was conducted to assess quantitative and qualitative changes in serum albumin in CAPD patients. For twenty-six CAPD patients as well as age-, sex- and dialysis history-matched HD patients, biochemical and physiological parameters including urea kinetics were determined. Albumin was qualitatively evaluated by HPLC. The CAPD patients showed significant decreases in serum albumin and the reduced form of albumin accompanied by a lower protein catabolic rate(PCR) compared to the HD patients. Thirty five % of CAPD patients showed mild to moderate hypoalbuminemia, associated with a higher incidence of peritonitis and longer hospital stay. Patients with hypoalbuminemia had less of the reduced form of albumin. A weak positive correlation was found between serum albumin concentration and KT/V, and PCR. Thus, in CAPD patients, there occur quantitative and qualitative changes in serum albumin. Hypoalbuminemia may be a risk factor for peritonitis and is due in part to insufficient dialysis and protein intake. Intermolecular change in albumin may possibly be due to uremia per se.