Cytogenetic Analyses Reveal “Atypical Cells” in the Peritoneal Dialysis Effluent

Abstract

Cytogenetic analyses were performed on dividing cells from the peritoneal effluent of 26 patients undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD). Numerical and structural abnormalities of karyotype served as the diagnostic criteria for “atypical cells.” The following cytogenetic abnormalities were observed in 7 patients: hyperdiploidy (in 6 patients), hypodiploidy (in 2 patients), and marker chromosomes (in 2 patients). In 3 patients more than one chromosome abnormality was present. Dividing cells with normal mitoses were observed in 11 patients, while in the remaining 8 patients no dividing cells could be found. There were no differences in age, sex, duration of dialysis, and peritonitis incidence between patients with pathological mitoses and those without it. The question whether this unexpected finding is a consequence of immunosuppressed uremic status, dialysis procedure, or some other factor remains to be elucidated.

Peritoneal Sclerosis: One or Two Nosological Entities?

“…The last topic in the pathology of SP is giant mesothelial cells. Many authors (58–61) have reported large mesothelial cells in peritoneal effluent. Gotloib et al (62,63) and our group (64,65) studied them experimentally in rats and rabbits, and our group also observed them in human dialysis fluid (64).…”