[Peritoneum as a dialysis membrane. II. Pathology].

Peritoneal dialysis is an established method of treatment of chronic renal failure. In that paper morphological and functional changes of peritoneum due to the process of long-term dialysis are presented. Morphological changes are observed in mesothelial cells, intercellular junctions, interstitial tissue and blood vessels. Moreover morphological changes in typical complications of chronic peritoneal dialysis, e. g. peritonitis, eosinophilic peritonitis, and sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis are described. Mechanisms of functional disorders during chronic peritoneal dialysis, involving the decreased permeability of the peritoneum, the increased permeability of the peritoneum and the enhanced lymphatic drainage are discussed. The article is the second of two parts presenting physiology and pathology of peritoneum as dialysis membrane.