Causes and prognosis of patients transferring from peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis

Objective To analyze the causes and prognosis of patients transferring from peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis. Methods We retrospectively investigated the causes of transferring from peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis in 39 patients between 1999 and 2008, and analyzed the prognosis of 23 patients transferred in our hospital. Results In the 39 peritoneal dialysis patients transferred from peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis, the average peritoneal dialysis time was 14.4 ± 16.3 months, and the reasons for the transfer were dialysis insufficiency (30.8%), mechanical complications (28.2%), peritoneal dialysis related infection (25.6%) and ultrafiltration failure (10.3%). Twenty-three patients were transferred to hemodialysis in our hospital, of which 12 patients died and hemodialysis continued in 11 patients. The major causes of death were cardiocerebrovascular events and infection. Diabetic patients had worse prognosis than patients with glomerulonepthritis. Conclusion The main causes of transferring to hemodialysis were dialysis insufficiency, mechanical complications and peritoneal dialysis related infection. Primary disease leading to renal failure affects the prognosis of patients transferred from peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis. Patients with diabetic nephropathy have worse prognosis than patients with glomerulonepthritis.