The Effect of Hyponatremia on Prognosis of Peritoneal Dialysis Patients with Peritonitis

Hyponatremia is known to be a marker of poor prognosis in many diseases. Peritonitis is the most common complication and the leading cause of mortality in patients under peritoneal dialysis. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of hyponatremia on prognosis of peritoneal dialysis patients with peritonitis.
In this case-control study, we selected 30 peritoneal dialysis patients with peritonitis and hyponatremia and also 30 peritoneal dialysis patients with peritonitis and normal serum levels of Na as control group. Mortality rate, hospitalization, and relapse of peritonitis were assessed as outcomes of the study. In addition, the demographic and laboratory characteristics, and pathogens of peritonitis were analyzed.
Findings: There were no significant differences in duration of dialysis, pathogens of peritonitis, and residual kidney function before and after peritonitis between the two groups (P > 0.05). Furthermore, comparison of the outcomes between the two groups revealed that there were no significant differences in mortality rate, hospitalization, and relapse of peritonitis (P 0.05). Acute phase protein levels in patients who died were higher than patients who continued their treatment (P = 0.02).
Serum level of Na during peritonitis is not an independent predicting factor of mortality, hospitalization, and relapse of peritonitis in patients with peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis. However, further studies would be required to demonstrate the exact role of Na in prognosis of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis.