The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in peritoneal dialysis: is what is good for the kidney also good for the peritoneum?

Morphological changes of the peritoneal membrane that occur over time among patients on peritoneal dialysis include fibrosis and neoangiogenesis. While the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying these changes are not fully understood, the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) may have an important role. Components of the RAAS are constitutively expressed within peritoneal mesothelial cells, and are upregulated in the presence of acute inflammation and chronic exposure to peritoneal dialysate. The high glucose concentration, low pH, and the presence of glucose degradation products in peritoneal dialysis solutions have all been implicated in modulation of peritoneal RAAS. Furthermore, activation of the RAAS, as well as the downstream production of transforming growth factor-beta, contributes to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation of mesothelial cells, resulting in progressive fibrosis of the peritoneal membrane. This process also leads to increased vascular endothelial growth factor production, which promotes peritoneal neoangiogenesis. Functionally, these changes translate into reduced ultrafiltration capacity of the peritoneal membrane, which is an important cause of technique failure among patients on long-term peritoneal dialysis. This brief review will describe our current state of knowledge about the role of peritoneal RAAS in peritoneal membrane damage and potential strategies to protect the membrane.