Nutritional and metabolic studies in children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

A study was done of 15 children and adolescents, aged 2.5 to 17.5 years, who were treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for 6 to 24 months. Plasma albumin concentration decreased from 34.4 +/- 4.8 g/liter at the onset of therapy to 31.3 +/- 5.3 g/liter after 19 to 24 months. Children less than 6 years old had lower albumin levels (29.4 +/- 1.7 g/liter) than did the older group (36.3 +/- 4.2 g/liter). The lower plasma albumin was related to peritoneal protein loss but not to protein intake. Plasma free amino acid concentrations were not significantly modified. No changes occurred in the oral glucose tolerance test during the course of CAPD. Plasma cholesterol and triglycerides were abnormally high for age, with a correlation seen between cholesterolemia and peritoneal protein loss.