Determination of prevalence, symptoms, signs, complications and mortality rate in patients with encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis in Iran

Introduction: Patients suffering from chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) are more likely to have a small bowel obstruction, sepsis, and death. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate how the EPS is prevalent in Iranian patients suffering from continuous chronic PD. It was also tried to detect risk factors, clinical symptoms, signs, complications and mortality rate. Patients and Methods: The study population consisted of all incident patients undergoing PD for more than 6 months from 1994 until 2015. The criterion to detect EPS was either positive radiological or surgical results in terms of the clinical short bowel obstruction (SBO) or a thickened peritoneum in the absence of an alternative etiology. Control groups were non-EPS patients that were twice the EPS patients. These patients were being followed up for at least 6 months after the end of PD. Results: This study showed that in people with EPS, 58.3% were women. The mean age was 47 years. The duration of treatment with PD in these patients was 58 months. Mortality rate in patients with EPS was 61.1 percent. Conclusion: It is advisable that individuals should be treated with chronic PD for a maximum period of three to 4 years.