The effects of mycophenolate mofetil on encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis model in rats.

INTRODUCTION

Encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a devastating complication of peritoneal dialysis. We aimed to investigate the effects of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) treatment in experimental EPS in rats.

METHODS

40 nonuremic Wistar albino rats were divided equally into 4 groups: control rats received 2 ml isotonic saline intraperitoneally daily for 3 weeks without any other treatment. The chlorhexidine gluconate group received intraperitoneally 2 ml/200 g injection of chlorhexidine gluconate and ethanol dissolved in saline for 3 weeks. The resting group received chlorhexidine gluconate (0 - 3rd week) + peritoneal resting (4th - 6th week). The MMF group received chlorhexidine gluconate (0 - 3rd week) + 125 mg/l MMF in drinking water (4th - 6th week). Dialysate cytokine levels, leukocyte count, peritoneal thickness, inflammation and fibroblast activities were evaluated.

RESULTS

Although the MMF and resting groups showed beneficial effects on ultrafiltration and D1/D0 glucose compared to the chlorhexidine gluconate group, only MMF treatment improved dialysate TGFβ1, VEGF and MCP-1 levels compared to the resting group. Inflammatory activity and vascularity observed in a tissue biopsy, including capillaries number per mm2 of submesothelial area, decreased in the treatment group.

CONCLUSIONS

MMF treatment has beneficial effects on EPS via inhibiting inflammation and neovascularisation by reducing dialysate VEGF overexpression.