Does Peritoneal Membrane Transport Affect Peritoneal Clearance of Beta 2–Microglobulin in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients?

OBJECTIVE: Our aim in this study was to compare peritoneal clearance of beta 2-microglobulin (B2M) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients who had high and low membrane transport status. MATERIAL and METHODS: Forty-nine PD patients were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups according to their peritoneal equilibration test (PET) results; high transport group and low transport group. Serum B2M levels and peritoneal clearance of B2M were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Dialysate B2M level and peritoneal clearance of B2M were higher in the high transporter group than in the low transporter group (5.92 ± 2.62 mg/L vs. 3.42 ± 1.51 mg/L, p: <0.001 and 11.13 ± 2.14 L/week/1.73 m2 vs. 6.41 ± 1.65 L/week/1.73 m2, p: <0.001, respectively). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in serum B2M concentration between the high transport group and the low transport group (24.15 ± 9.10 mg/L vs. 27.35 ± 10.10 mg/L, respectively, P>0.05). Serum B2M concentration was positively correlated with duration of PD (r: 0.518, p: <0.001). CONCLUSION: Although dialysate levels and peritoneal clearance of the middle molecule B2M were significantly higher in high transporters compared to low transporters, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of serum B2M concentration.