Expanding criteria for peritoneal dialysis use.

The end stage renal disease population is growing all around the world. Most of these patients will need any kind of renal replacement treatment: renal transplantation, hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Treatment of renal failure is costly and many analyses demonstrate that home based dialysis is the cheapest. In spite of social, clinical and economical advantages of peritoneal dialysis (PD), it is an underutilized modality of renal treatment. Low incidence and prevalence of PD as a renal replacement therapy is still a truth. Many factors influence that scarce use; nowadays there are countries which are making changes in their health systems in an effort to enhance its use. The following review presents the current situation of the use of peritoneal dialysis, its costs, complications and possible improvements to enhance its use.