Systemic lupus erythematosus and peritoneal dialysis: Outcomes and infectious complications

◆ Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common secondary glomerulonephritis resulting in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among young adults in Taiwan. Studies of the infectious complications and outcomes among such SLE patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) are limited. ◆ Design: A retrospective age- and gender-matched case control study. ◆ Setting: A university teaching hospital. ◆ Patients: There were 23 SLE patients with ESRD receiving PD for more than 3 months during the past 15 years. Another 46 age- and gender-matched non-SLE nondiabetic patients receiving PD were selected as the control group in this study. ◆ Intervention: All patients underwent PD as renal replacement therapy and were regularly followed up at this hospital. ◆ Main Outcome Measures: Technique survival and incidences of exit-site infection (ESI) and peritonitis in these patients. ◆ Results: The SLE patients had a lower predialysis serum albumin than the control group (3.16 ± 0.50 g/dL vs 3.52 ± 0.50 g/dL, p < 0.01). The incidences of exit-site infection (ESI) and peritonitis were higher for SLE patients than for control patients (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that SLE patients had shorter time intervals to first infectious complications, and poorer technique survival. Infection was the major cause of dropout and mortality in the SLE patients. The SLE patients had a reduced chance of receiving a renal transplant. The use of steroids by SLE patients was associated with a higher incidence of peritonitis (p = 0.04), but association with ESI was insignificant. In a Cox regression model, the underlying SLE was the only risk factor for technique failure and time interval to first infectious complication. ◆ Conclusion: SLE patients undergoing PD are more susceptible to infection than age- and gender-matched non-SLE nondiabetic patients and have poorer technique survival. Systemic lupus erythematosus itself may further compromise the immunity of uremic patients.