OBJECTIVE: To compare the biochemical and nutritional effects of amino acid dialysis with dextrose dialysis in children receiving continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD). DESIGN: A prospective randomized cross-over study. SETTING: Nonhospitalized patients. PATIENTS: Seven children aged 1.8 to 16.0 years (mean 8.1 years) with end-stage renal disease who were receiving CCPD. INTERVENTIONS: Each patient received nighttime automated CCPD of dextrose, plus a single daytime dwell of either amino acid dialysate or dextrose dialysate. After 3 months, subjects crossed over to the alternative regimen for a subsequent 3 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Creatinine clearance, ultrafiltration, urea, creatinine, electrolytes, total protein, albumin, fasting plasma amino acids, anthropometrics, total body nitrogen. RESULTS: Amino acid dialysis was comparable to dextrose dialysis for creatinine clearance and ultrafiltration. Plasma urea concentrations were higher during amino acid dialysis. No clinical side effects or worsening of metabolic acidosis was observed. Caloric intake increased and protein intake improved. Appetite and total body nitrogen increased in at least half the children during amino acid dialysis.Total plasma protein and albumin concentrations did not change significantly. Fasting plasma concentrations of amino acids after 3 months of amino acid dialysis were comparable to baseline values. For several amino acids, the dose-response curve was blunted after a single amino acid exchange following 3 months of amino acid dialysis, which may, in part, be due to the induction of hepatic enzyme synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Amino acid dialysis is an efficient form of peritoneal dialysis that should be considered for children with poor nutritional status for whom enteral nutrition supplementation has been unsuccessful. Further study is needed to determine the optimal amount of amino acids to deliver, the best time to administer the amino acid dialysis fluid, and the benefits of adding dextrose to the amino acid solution.

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