Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an important form of treatment for patients with end-stage kidney failure requiring renal replacement therapy, yet the percentage of patients treated with PD is still low in Europe, ranging from 4% in Austria, Norway and parts of Spain to 11% in Denmark and Romania [1]. From the medical perspective, the outcomes of haemodialysis and PD are equivalent, and some specific patient groups, e.g. the young, may even gain by starting their renal replacement therapy on PD. PD also has the major advantage of being a home dialysis therapy. This means that, instead of having to go to a dialysis centre for haemodialysis three times a week for about four hours, PD patients can have much greater flexibility. They can choose when and where to dialyse - and this may enable them to keep their job or to go on vacation. The treatment can also better be adapted to the lifestyle of the patient, and patients are empowered to be in control of their own treatment and life.
PD remains underprescribed, and many patients are not even offered this modality. To promote PD in Europe a collaborative partnership has now been established between EuroPD and the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA). EuroPD was founded in 1993, and supports research and education in the field of PD. A cornerstone of this process is the biannual EuroPD Meeting held throughout Europe.
"The goal of EuroPD is to promote, support and expand knowledge, research and clinical practice in peritoneal dialysis", comments Prof. Nicholas Topley, Cardiff, UK, President of EuroPD. "Working more closely with ERA-EDTA will allow us to reach a wider audience, and reinforce to the wider nephrology community the utility and excellence of peritoneal dialysis as a therapy."
"PD is a key method of renal replacement and could be used to treat at least 15 to 20% of dialysis patients. PD has a positive impact on quality of life, because it promotes self-management and empowers patients with more choice, information and control. It also is, next to kidney transplantation, the most cost-effective therapy imposing the lowest financial pressure on society of all dialysis options. ERA-EDTA is eager to promote PD in Europe and has therefore agreed to establish this collaboration with EuroPD as one of the main ways to promote PD education", explains ERA-EDTA president, Prof. Raymond Vanholder, Ghent, Belgium. "We have to focus on improving the knowledge and training of nephrologists in the field of peritoneal dialysis".
To reach these aims, ERA-EDTA will host a track that is devoted to all aspects of PD during the annual congress and work together with EuroPD to produce electronic CME materials to promote PD education. It will also ensure that EuroPD initiatives acquire their due visibility among ERA-EDTA membership, and vice versa, ERA-EDTA will participate directly in future EuroPD meetings. This initiative will encompass also other activities of personalized renal replacement therapies, such as home haemodialysis and self care.