Effect of Intraperitoneal Administration of Heparin to Patients on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)

The effect of intraperitoneal administration of heparin to patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) remains obscure. We examined 8 patients on CAPD to investigate its effect. When 2.5 U/ml or 5 U/ml of heparin was given intraperitoneally, t1/2 of heparin activity in the dialysate was 0.5 to 2 hrs, and 6 hrs after administration its activity was 0.5 U/ml and 1.4 U/ml respectively. Whole blood clotting time was hardly affected because the transfer of heparin to the plasma was minimal. The plasma antithrombin III (AT -III) levels were comparable to patients on hemodialysis, but the AT-111level in the dialysate was only 1.5% of those in the plasma. We conclude that the intraperitoneal administration of heparin at these doses is effective in preventing fibrin precipitation when intraperitoneal AT -III levels are expected to be relatively increased such as at the start of CAPD or in the presence of peritonitis.