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The Clinical Picture

An unusual complication of peritoneal dialysis

Mohamad Hanouneh, MD, Pranav Damera, Mehrdad Fetrat, MBBS, MD and Duvuru Geetha, MD
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine May 2018, 85 (5) 352-354; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3949/ccjm.85a.17090
Mohamad Hanouneh
Nephrology Fellow, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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  • For correspondence: [email protected]
Pranav Damera
University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, MD
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Mehrdad Fetrat
Instructor of Radiology and Radiological Science, Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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Duvuru Geetha
Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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A 45-year-old man with end-stage renal disease secondary to hypertension presented with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. He had been on peritoneal dialysis for 15 years.

Results of initial laboratory testing were as follows:

  • Sodium 137 mmol/L (reference range 136– 144)

  • Potassium 3.7 mmol/L (3.5–5.0)

  • Bicarbonate 31 mmol/L (22–30)

  • Creatinine 17.5 mg/dL (0.58–0.96)

  • Blood urea nitrogen 57 mg/dL (7–21)

  • Lactic acid 1.7 mmol/L (0.5–2.2)

  • White blood cell count 14.34 × 109/L (3.70–11.0).

Blood cultures were negative. Peritoneal fluid analysis showed a white blood cell count of 1.2 × 109/L (reference range < 0.5 × 109/L) with 89% neutrophils, and an amylase level less than 3 U/L (reference range < 100). Fluid cultures were positive for coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Computed tomography (CT) showed diffuse parietal and visceral peritoneal calcifications encasing the small-bowel loops, consistent with encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (Figure 1). His peritoneal dialysis catheter was removed, and he was transitioned to hemodialysis. He was discharged on a course of antibiotics and was started on prednisone and tamoxifen.

Figure 1
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Figure 1

Computed tomography showed diffuse parietal and visceral peritoneal calcifications encasing the small-bowel loops (arrows), consistent with encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis.

He presented again a few months later with abdominal pain. At that time, CT (Figure 2) demonstrated dilated small-bowel loops indicative of small-bowel obstruction and pneumoperitoneum consistent with bowel perforation. He declined surgical treatment and was referred for hospice care.

Figure 2
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Figure 2

Several months later, computed tomography showed dilated small-bowel loops indicative of small-bowel obstruction (red arrows) and pneumo-peritoneum (yellow arrow).

CAUSES AND CLINICAL FEATURES

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis is a devastating complication of peritoneal dialysis, occurring in 3% of patients on peritoneal dialysis. The mortality rate is above 40%.1,2 It is characterized by an initial inflammatory phase followed by extensive intraperitoneal fibrosis and encasement of bowel. Causes include prolonged exposure to peritoneal dialysis or glucose degradation products, a history of severe peritonitis, use of acetate as a dialysate buffer, and reaction to medications such as beta-blockers.3

Clinical features result from inflammation, ileus, and peritoneal adhesions and include abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. A high peritoneal transport rate, which often heralds development of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis, leads to failure of ultrafiltration and to fluid retention.

CT is recommended for diagnosis and demonstrates peritoneal calcification with bowel thickening and dilation.

TREATMENT

Treatment entails stopping peritoneal dialysis, changing to hemodialysis, bowel rest, and corticosteroids. Successful treatment has been reported with a combination of corticosteroids and azathioprine.4,5 A retrospective study showed that adding the antifibrotic agent tamoxifen was associated with a decrease in the mortality rate.6 Bowel obstruction is a common complication, and surgery may be indicated. Enterolysis is a new surgical technique that has shown improved outcomes.7

Footnotes

  • Dr. Geetha has disclosed consulting for ChemoCentryx and Genentech.

  • Copyright © 2018 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

REFERENCES

  1. ↵
    1. Kawaguchi Y,
    2. Saito A,
    3. Kawanishi H,
    4. et al
    . Recommendations on the management of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis in Japan, 2005: diagnosis, predictive markers, treatment, and preventive measures. Perit Dial Int 2005; 25(suppl 4):S83–S95. pmid:16300277
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  2. ↵
    1. Lee HY,
    2. Kim BS,
    3. Choi HY,
    4. et al
    . Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis as a complication of long-term continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in Korea. Nephrology (Carlton) 2003; 8(suppl 2):S33–S39. doi:10.1046/J.1440-1797.8.S.11.X
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  3. ↵
    1. Kawaguchi Y,
    2. Tranaeus A
    . A historical review of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis. Perit Dial Int 2005; 25(suppl 4):S7–S13. pmid:16300267
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  4. ↵
    1. Martins LS,
    2. Rodrigues AS,
    3. Cabrita AN,
    4. Guimaraes S
    . Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis: a case successfully treated with immunosuppression. Perit Dial Int 1999; 19(5):478–481. pmid:11379862
    OpenUrlFREE Full Text
  5. ↵
    1. Wong CF,
    2. Beshir S,
    3. Khalil A,
    4. Pai P,
    5. Ahmad R
    . Successful treatment of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis with azathioprine and prednisolone. Perit Dial Int 2005; 25(3):285–287. pmid:15981777
    OpenUrlFREE Full Text
  6. ↵
    1. Korte MR,
    2. Fieren MW,
    3. Sampimon DE,
    4. Lingsma HF,
    5. Weimar W,
    6. Betjes MG,
    7. investigators of the Dutch Multicentre EPS Study
    . Tamoxifen is associated with lower mortality of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis: results of the Dutch Multicentre EPS Study. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2011; 26(2):691–697. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfq362
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  7. ↵
    1. Kawanishi H,
    2. Watanabe H,
    3. Moriishi M,
    4. Tsuchiya S
    . Successful surgical management of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis. Perit Dial Int 2005; 25(suppl 4):S39–S47. pmid:16300271
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
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Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine: 85 (5)
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
Vol. 85, Issue 5
1 May 2018
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An unusual complication of peritoneal dialysis
Mohamad Hanouneh, Pranav Damera, Mehrdad Fetrat, Duvuru Geetha
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine May 2018, 85 (5) 352-354; DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.85a.17090

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An unusual complication of peritoneal dialysis
Mohamad Hanouneh, Pranav Damera, Mehrdad Fetrat, Duvuru Geetha
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine May 2018, 85 (5) 352-354; DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.85a.17090
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