Experience with continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis during the first year of life.

The clinical experience in eight infants aged 5.8 +/- 2.3 (SD) months at the initiation of continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) is described. BUN, creatinine, albumin, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase measurements were performed serially and no changes were seen throughout the follow-up period. Mean total energy and protein intake were 94 +/- 8% and 79 +/- 9% of the recommended. The initial and final standard deviation scores (SDS) for height were -1.42 +/- 1.32 and -2.47 +/- 1.36 (P less than 0.001), respectively. The SDS for body weight and head circumference were -1.67 +/- 0.71 and -1.67 +/- 1.04, respectively, at the beginning of the study and -1.83 +/- 0.98 and -1.88 +/- 1.52, respectively, at the end of the period of observation. The incidence of peritonitis was one episode every 11.6 patient months; six patients developed nine hernias. The present study demonstrates that CCPD is an acceptable dialytic modality, with minimal morbidity, for the management of infants awaiting renal transplantation.