Background. Insulin resistance contributes to the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and, thus, has an important impact on the mortality of uraemic patients. Haemodialysis (HD) is known to improve insulin resistance observed in uraemia. However, it is not known whether continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) alleviates insulin resistance in adult uraemic patients. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of two different dialysis modalities, HD and CAPD, on insulin resistance in adult uraemic patients and to identify the possible predictive factors for changes in insulin resistance.

Methods. Insulin resistance was examined in 19 non-diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) before and after dialysis therapy (HD, n=10; CAPD, n=9), as well as in 10 healthy controls using the hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic glucose clamp technique. The glucose disposal rate (GDR mg/kg/min) was used as an index of insulin sensitivity during the clamp technique. We also determined which of various biochemical parameters might be associated with change in insulin resistance by carrying out multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results. GDR was significantly lower (6.44±1.76) in ESRD subjects than in normal subjects (9.90±2.01). HD and CAPD therapies significantly normalized GDR from 6.53±1.84 to 9.74±2.88 and from 6.35±1.65 to 8.18±1.76 respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that changes in BUN, haematocrit and plasma bicarbonate were significant predictive factors for the change in insulin resistance.

Conclusion. CAPD therapy, in spite of its possible adverse effects in patients with atherosclerotic disease, has been shown to improve insulin resistance in adult uraemic patients, similarly to HD therapy.