The importance of residual renal function in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Increased peritoneal clearance can compensate for reductions in renal solute removal in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD); however there is abundant evidence to suggest that renal rather than peritoneal clearance contributes to clinical outcomes. We review the evidence investigating the impact of residual renal function (RRF) and peritoneal solute clearances on survival and quality of life in PD patients. We also provide a comparison of the relative contribution of RRF and peritoneal clearance to patient survival. In addition, mechanisms of survival benefit in patients with preserved renal function, factors contributing to RRF decline, and interventions that may limit the progressive loss of RRF are discussed.