A hemostasis study in CAPD patients during fibrinolytic intraperitoneal therapy with urokinase (UK)

Catheter obstruction due to fibrin deposits during CAPD can cause poor outflow of peritoneal fluid and recurrent peritonitis. In order to treat this complication, 75,000 IU of diluted Urokinase (UK) were infused into catheters obstructed by fibrin in 10 CAPD patients (4 of which had peritonitis), without adverse reactions. After 60 minutes, a 2 liter exchange of peritoneal fluid was performed. In all the cases a normal outflow was restored. Hemostasis parameters (PT, PTT, TT, Fibrinogen, FDP, Fibrin monomers, BT, AT III) and blood cells count (RBC, HGB, HCT, WBC, PTL), were assayed before and two hours after the UK infusion, and did not show any significant variation, except for a decrease of white blood cells, which remained, however, within the normal range. No peritonitis episode occurred in the follow-up period. UK fibrinolytic therapy is safe and effective in treating fibrin obstruction of CAPD catheters without catheter removal and prevents recurrent peritonitis.