Comprehensive Review:Diagnosis,Classification,and Risk Factors of Peritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis

Peritoneal dialysis(PD)is a predominant modality of renal replacement therapy(RRT)for individuals suffering from end-stage renal disease(ESRD).Peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis(PDAP)represents a frequent complication among patients undergoing PD,significantly contributing to adverse clinical outcomes.This review comprehensively examines the diagnosis,classification,and risk factors associated with PDAP,aiming to offer clinical practitioners essential guidance and a foundational framework for effective clinical management.

BMSC-derived Exosomes Ameliorate Peritoneal Dialysis-associated Peritoneal Fibrosis via the Mir-27a-3p/TP53 Pathway

Objective:Peritoneal fibrosis(PF)is the main cause of declining efficiency and ultrafiltration failure of the peritoneum,which restricts the long-term application of peritoneal dialysis(PD).This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes(BMSC-Exos)on PF in response to PD.Methods:Small RNA sequencing analysis of BMSC-Exos was performed by second-generation sequencing.C57BL/6J mice were infused with 4.25%glucose-based peritoneal dialysis fluid(PDF)for 6 consecutive weeks to establish a PF model.A total of 36 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups:control group,1.5%PDF group,2.5%PDF group,4.25%PDF group,BMSC-Exos treatment group,and BMSC-Exos+TP53 treatment group.Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was performed to measure the expression level of miR-27a-3p in BMSC-Exos and peritoneum of mice treated with different concentrations of PDF.HE and Masson staining were performed to evaluate the extent of PF.The therapeutic potential of BMSC-Exos for PF was examined through pathological examination,RT-qPCR,Western blotting,and peritoneal function analyses.Epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)of HMrSV5 was induced with 4.25%PDF.Cells were divided into control group,4.25%PDF group,BMSC-Exos treatment group,and BMSC-Exos+TP53 treatment group.Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to measure cell viability,and transwell migration assay was used to verify the capacity of BMSC-Exos to inhibit EMT in HMrSV5 cells.Results:Small RNA sequencing analysis showed that miR-27a-3p was highly expressed in BMSC-derived exosomes compared to BMSCs.The RT-qPCR results showed that the expression of miR-27a-3p was upregulated in BMSC-Exos,but decreased in PD mice.We found that PF was glucose concentration-dependently enhanced in the peritoneum of the PD mice.Compared with the control mice,the PD mice showed high solute transport and decreased ultrafiltration volume as well as an obvious fibroproliferative response,with markedly increased peritoneal thickness and higher expression ofα-SMA,collagen-I,fibronectin,and ECM1.The mice with PD showed decreased miR-27a-3p.Peritoneal structural and functional damage was significantly attenuated after BMSC-Exos treatment,while PF and mesothelial damage were significantly ameliorated.Additionally,markers of fibrosis(α-SMA,collagen-I,fibronectin,ECM1)and profibrotic cytokines(TGF-β1,PDGF)were downregulated at the mRNA and protein levels after BMSC-Exos treatment.In HMrSV5 cells,BMSC-Exos reversed the decrease in cell viability and the increase in cell migratory capacity caused by high-glucose PDF.Western blotting and RT-qPCR analysis revealed that BMSC-Exos treatment resulted in increased expression of E-cadherin(epithelial marker)and decreased expression ofα-SMA,Snail,and vimentin(mesenchymal markers)compared to those of the 4.25%PDF-treated cells.Importantly,a dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that TP53 was a target gene of miR-27a-3p.TP53 overexpression significantly reversed the decreases in PF and EMT progression induced by BMSC-Exos.Conclusion:The present results demonstrate that BMSC-Exos showed an obvious protective effect on PD-related PF and suggest that BMSC-derived exosomal miR-27a-3p may exert its inhibitory effect on PF and EMT progression by targeting TP53.

Tuberculous peritonitis complicated by an intraperitoneal tuberculous abscess: A case report

BACKGROUND Tuberculous peritonitis(TBP)is a chronic,diffuse inflammation of the peritoneum caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.The route of infection can be by direct spread of intraperitoneal tuberculosis(TB)or by hematogenous dissemination.The former is more common,such as intestinal TB,mesenteric lymphatic TB,fa-llopian tube TB,etc.,and can be the direct primary lesion of the disease.CASE SUMMARY We present an older male patient with TBP complicated by an abdominal mass.The patient's preoperative symptoms,signs and imaging data suggested a poss-ible abdominal tumor.After surgical treatment,the patient's primary diagnosis of TBP complicating an intraperitoneal tuberculous abscess was established by com-bining past medical history,postoperative pathology,and positive results of TB-related laboratory tests.The patient's symptoms were significantly reduced after surgical treatment,and he was discharged from the hospital with instructions to continue treatment at a TB specialist hospital and to undergo anti-TB treatment if necessary.CONCLUSION This case report analyses the management of TBP complicated by intraperitoneal tuberculous abscess and highlights the importance of early definitive diagnosis in the hope of improving the clinical management of this type of disease.

Sensitivity of diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is higher with the automated cell count method

BACKGROUND Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis(SBP)is one of the most important complications of patients with liver cirrhosis entailing high morbidity and mortality.Making an accurate early diagnosis of this infection is key in the outcome of these patients.The current definition of SBP is based on studies performed more than 40 years ago using a manual technique to count the number of polymorphs in ascitic fluid(AF).There is a lack of data comparing the traditional cell count method with a current automated cell counter.Moreover,current international guidelines do not mention the type of cell count method to be employed and around half of the centers still rely on the traditional manual method.AIM To compare the accuracy of polymorph count on AF to diagnose SBP between the traditional manual cell count method and a modern automated cell counter against SBP cases fulfilling gold standard criteria:Positive AF culture and signs/symptoms of peritonitis.METHODS Retrospective analysis including two cohorts:Cross-sectional(cohort 1)and case-control(cohort 2),of patients with decompensated cirrhosis and ascites.Both cell count methods were conducted simultaneously.Positive SBP cases had a pathogenic bacteria isolated on AF and signs/symptoms of peritonitis.RESULTS A total of 137 cases with 5 positive-SBP,and 85 cases with 33 positive-SBP were included in cohort 1 and 2,respectively.Positive-SBP cases had worse liver function in both cohorts.The automated method showed higher sensitivity than the manual cell count:80%vs 52%,P=0.02,in cohort 2.Both methods showed very good specificity(>95%).The best cutoff using the automated cell counter was polymorph≥0.2 cells×10^(9)/L(equivalent to 200 cells/mm^(3))in AF as it has the higher sensitivity keeping a good specificity.CONCLUSION The automated cell count method should be preferred over the manual method to diagnose SBP because of its higher sensitivity.SBP definition,using the automated method,as polymorph cell count≥0.2 cells×10^(9)/L in AF would need to be considered in patients admitted with decompensated cirrhosis.

Effect of Fushen granule on prognosis of patients with peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis during 1 year

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Fushen Granules combined with antibiotics in the treatment of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis.Methods Totally 49 patients with PD-associated peritonitis were selected and randomly assigned to control group(16 cases),probiotics group (17 cases) and Chinese medicine (CM) group (16 cases) according to the random number table in Department of Peritoneal Dialysis of First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM.

Association between platelet/lymphocyte ratio and frequent peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients

Objective To explore the association between platelet/lymphocyte ratio(PLR)and frequent peritoneal dialysis(PD)-associated peritonitis(PDAP)in PD patients.Methods The data of PD patients with PDAP from Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital between January 2015 and June 2019 were analyzed retrospectively.

A multicenter clinical study of 280 cases of staphylococcal peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis

Objective To investigate the incidence,drug sensitivity and drug resistance characteristics,and theraputic effect of staphylococcal peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis(PDAP)to provide clinical evidences for standardizing treatment therapy of staphylococcal PDAP.

Neisseria mucosa-A rare cause of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis:A case report

BACKGROUND Neisseria mucosa is a gram negative diplococcus belonging to the genus Neisseria found commonly in the upper respiratory tract.It is typically a commensal organism when it is parasitic on oral and nasal mucosa.To our knowledge,it does not cause disease in healthy individuals with normal immunity,but can be pathogenic in those with impaired immune function or change in bacterial colonization site.Neisseria mucosa has been reported to cause bacterial meningitis,conjunctivitis,pneumonia,endocarditis,peritonitis and urethritis.However,peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis caused by Neisseria mucosa is extremely rare in clinical practice,which has not previously been reported in China.CASE SUMMARY A 55-year-old female presented to the nephrology clinic with upper abdominal pain without apparent cause,accompanied by nausea,vomiting and diarrhea for two days.The patient had a history of Stage 5 chronic kidney disease for five years,combined with renal hypertension and renal anemia,and was treated with peritoneal dialysis for renal replacement therapy.The patient was subsequently diagnosed with peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis.Routine examination of peritoneal dialysis fluid showed abdominal infection,and the results of microbial culture of the peritoneal dialysis fluid confirmed Neisseria mucosa.Imi-penem/cilastatin 1.0 g q12h was added to peritoneal dialysis fluid for anti-infection treatment.After 24 d,the patient underwent upper extremity arteriovenous fistulation.One month later,the patient was discharged home in a clinically stable state.CONCLUSION Peritonitis caused by Neisseria mucosa is rare.Patients with home-based self-dialysis cannot guarantee good medical and health conditions,and require education on self-protection.

Peritonitis: Perioperative Care in Surgical Emergencies CHU Ignace Deen

Objective: Describe the perioperative management of peritonitis in surgical emergencies. Methodology: This was a prospective observational study of the descriptive type over a period of 12 months from January 01 to December 31, 2020 in the surgical emergency room at the CHU Ignace Deen. Included in the study were all patients admitted for peritonitis aged greater than or equal to 18 years. The parameters were epidemiological, clinical and anesthetic. Results: Of the 653 admissions to surgical emergencies in 2020, 185 cases presented with peritonitis, i.e. 29.3%. The average age was 38.6 ± 16.64 years with extremes of 18 and 90 years. The sex ratio was 1.89. The comorbidities were dominated by gastritis and hypertension, i.e. 22%. The patients were classified as ASA 3U (52.4%), ASA2 U (39.5%) and ASA 4 U (8.1%). Preoperative resuscitation was provided only with 100% saline. 25.5% of patients had received a blood transfusion. The response time was less than 48 hours, i.e. 77.6%. General anesthesia was performed for all patients. Ketamine was the most used IV hypnotic (56.3%) combined with 100% halothane. The curares used were suxamethonium at (81.6%), Atracurium (81.6%) and rocuronium at (18.3%). Fentanyl was the only morphine used. Senior anesthesia technicians provided anesthesia in (63.2%). Intraoperative incidents were dominated by hypotension, difficult intubation, cardiac arrest, respectively 10.3%, 8% and 0.5%. The immediate postoperative incidents were arterial hypotension, nausea and desaturation, respectively 52.9%, 80% and 32.4%. Mortality was 3.4%. Conclusion: The perioperative management of peritonitis in the emergency room must be as early as possible in order to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Acute Peritonitis at the CSRef of the Commune I in the District of Bamako: Signs, Diagnosis and Treatment

Acute generalized peritonitis is an acute inflammation of the peritoneum. It is most often secondary to perforation of the digestive organ and/or the spread of an intra-abdominal septic focus. The absence of a study on peritonitis in a reference health center motivated us for this work. The aim of this study was to study the inadequacies that could be seen in the management of peritonitis in the CSRef(s). We carried out a retrospective study of 40 patients received at the CSRéf of commune I for acute generalized peritonitis from 2011 to 2012. The average age was 30.1 years with a standard deviation of 3.4;extremes ranging from 14 years to 60 years and a Sex ratio = 1.22 (22 men out of 18 women). Abdominal pain was the main reason for consultation (present in all our patients). In most cases, clinical examination alone made it possible to make the diagnosis. Surgical treatment depended on the etiology (appendectomy associated with washing-drainage was the most commonly performed surgical procedure). All our patients received general anesthesia. The average length of hospitalization was 7 days with extremes ranging from 1 to 15 days. We noted a Morbidity rate of 22.5%, dominated by wall abscesses and a mortality of 2.5%. The delay in consultation and referrals constitutes a factor in mortality and high morbidity.

Acute Peritonitis at the Reference Health Center of Commune I of the District of Bamako: Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects

Acute peritonitis is most often secondary to perforation of the digestive organ and/or the spread of an intra-abdominal septic focus. The objectives of this work were to study acute peritonitis in the general surgery department of the Cs ref of commune I in Mali, to determine the frequency of peritonitis, to describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects in order to analyze the surgical consequences and to assess the additional cost of treating acute peritonitis. This study was prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional involving 40 patients received in the surgery department of the Cs ref of commune I for acute peritonitis from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. There were 40 patients among whom 28 (70%) were men and 12 were women (30%), i.e. a sex ratio = 2.3. The average age was 25 years with extremes varying between 16 and 54 years and a standard deviation of 11.78. Abdominal pain was the main reason for consultation. Clinical examination alone made it possible to make the diagnosis in 75% of cases. Surgical treatment depended on the intraoperative etiology. The clinical diagnosis was supported by ASP and abdominal ultrasound;performed respectively in 10% and 90% of patients. Appendiceal peritonitis was the intraoperative diagnosis observed in 50% of cases. All our patients benefited from a peritoneal toilet with drainage. We noted a morbidity rate of 5% dominated by parietal suppuration. The average cost of care was 175,000 FCFA.

Conservative management of multi-trauma induced peritonitis:Experience,outcomes,and indications

BACKGROUND The concept of mandatory laparotomy in treating traumatic peritonitis has been increasingly questioned recently.AIM To summarize and share the experience of conservative treatment of patients with multi-trauma induced peritonitis.METHODS A retrospective review was performed on patients with multiple injury induced traumatic peritonitis.RESULTS A total of 184 patients with multiple injury induced traumatic peritonitis were reviewed.46 of them underwent conservative treatment.None of the 46 patients with conservative treatment switched to surgical treatment,and all of them were cured and discharged after successful conservative treatment.No significant abnormal findings were observed at regular follow-up after discharge.CONCLUSION Conservative management is safe,effective,feasible,and beneficial in hemodynamically stable patients with traumatic peritonitis if there is no definite evidence of severe abdominal visceral organ injury.

Acute diffuse peritonitis secondary to a seminal vesicle abscess:A case report

BACKGROUND Seminal vesicle abscess(SVA)is the manifestation of a relatively rare urinary system infection.In response to urinary system inflammation,an abscess forms in special locations.However,acute diffuse peritonitis(ADP)induced by SVA is unusual.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of a left SVA in a male patient complicated with pelvic abscess,ADP,multiple organ dysfunction syndrome,infectious shock,bacteremia,and acute appendiceal extraserous suppurative inflammation as a result of a long-term indwelling urinary catheter.The patient received a course of morinidazole+cefminol antibiotics but showed no obvious relief,so the perineal SVA underwent puncture drainage and abdominal abscess drainage+appendectomy was performed.The operations were successful.After the operation,anti-infection,anti-shock,and nutritional support treatments were continued and various laboratory indicators were regularly reviewed.The patient was discharged from the hospital after recovery.This disease is a challenge for the clinician because of the unusual spreading path of the abscess.Moreover,appropriate intervention and adequate drainage of abdominal and pelvic lesions are necessary,especially when the primary focus cannot be determined.CONCLUSION The etiology of ADP varies,but acute peritonitis secondary to SVA is very rare.In this patient,the left SVA not only affected the adjacent prostate and bladder but also spread retrogradely through the vas deferens,forming a pelvic abscess in the loose tissues of the extraperitoneal fascia layer.Inflammation involving the peritoneal layer led to ascites and pus accumulation in the abdominal cavity,and appendix involvement led to extraserous suppurative inflammation.In clinical practice,surgeons need to consider the results of various laboratory tests and imaging examinations to make comprehensive judgments involving the diagnosis and treatment plan.

Three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction diagnosed digestive tract perforation and acute peritonitis caused by Monopterus albus:A case report

BACKGROUND Few reports have described living foreign bodies in the human body.The current manuscript demonstrates that computed tomography(CT)is an effective tool for accurate preoperative evaluation of living foreign bodies in clinic.The threedimensional(3D)reconstruction technology could clearly display anatomical structures,lesions and adjacent organs,improving diagnostic accuracy and guiding the surgical decision-making process.CASE SUMMARY Herein we describe a 68-year-old man diagnosed with digestive tract perforation and acute peritonitis caused by a foreign body of Monopterus albus.The patient pre-sented to the emergency department with complaints of dull abdominal pain,profuse sweating and a pale complexion during work.A Monopterus albus had entered the patient’s body through the anus two hours ago.During hospitalization,the 3D reconstruction technology revealed a perforation of the middle rectum complicated with acute peritonitis and showed a clear and complete Monopterus albus bone morphology in the abdominal and pelvic cavities,with the Monopterus albus biting the mesentery.Laparoscopic examination detected a large(diameter of about 1.5 cm)perforation in the mid-rectum.It could be seen that a Monopterus albus had completely entered the abdominal cavity and had tightly bitten the mesentery of the small intestine.During the operation,the dead Monopterus albus was taken out.CONCLUSION The current manuscript demonstrates that CT is an effective tool for accurate preoperative evaluation of living foreign bodies in clinic.

Effect of different nursing interventions on the incidence of peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients at home: a network meta-analysis

Objective:Bayesian network meta-analysis was used to evaluate the effect of different nursing interventions on the incidence of peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients at home.Methods:Cochrane Library,PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,China Biology Medicine disc,CNKI and Wanfang data were searched to identify randomized controlled trials(RCTs)investigating the effects of different nursing interventions or health education on peritonitis in home peritoneal dialysis patients from the establishment of each database to March 2022.After literature screening,the Cochrane 5.1 evaluation tool was used to assess quality,Review Manager 5.4 software was used to generate a literature quality evaluation chart and R4.1.2 software,JAGS package,and GEMTC package were used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 9 RCTs involving 8 different nursing interventions and a total of 1011 patients were included in the meta-analysis.The incidence of peritonitis for the eight nursing interventions,ranked from highest to lowest,were:systematic nursing,Omaha system case management intervention,routine care+health promotion mode,PD specialist nurse-led multi-disciplinary network platform management mode,5E rehabilitation nursing mode,routine care+Omaha extended nursing service,one-on-one coordinated family support intervention,and routine care.Conclusions:Systematic nursing was found to be the most effective intervention in reducing the incidence of peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients at home.However,this conclusion needs to be further verified by more high-quality,multicenter and large sample RCTs.

Solitary extraovarian primary peritoneal carcinoma with direct invasion into the liver,diaphragm and lung without peritoneal dissemination or distant metastasis

To the Editor:Extraovarian primary peritoneal carcinoma(EOPPC)is an uncommon malignancy with many similarities to epithelial ovarian carcinoma in histological,clinical,and etiological aspects[1].This phenomenon is explained by their common embryonal origin,in which both develop from the coelomic epithelium in the early embryological stage.Despite their similarities,the incidence of EOPPC is significantly lower than that of epithelial ovarian carcinoma(6.78 cases per million vs.120.5 cases per million)[1].

Peritoneo-Vaginal Leaks in Peritoneal Dialysis: A Report of 3 Cases

Introduction: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an extra-renal purification technique indicated for patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Although it has many advantages, it also has a number of complications, such as peritoneo-vaginal leakage of dialysate. Cases Reports: Three male patients, aged 70, 50 and 77 respectively, with ESKD were placed on PD. All three patients presented with inadequate drainage and the progressive appearance of bilateral hydrocele, which occurred one year (late leakage), two and four days (early leakage) respectively after the initiation of exchanges. The etiological investigation led to the conclusion of a peritoneo-vaginal leak associated with an inguinal hernia in only one case. The two cases of early leakage were treated by temporary suspension of PD, with a good response in one case and failure in the second, leading to hisdefinitive transfer to hemodialysis (HD);however, the hernia repair enabled immediate resumption of PD in the third patient. Discussion and Conclusion: Peritoneo-vaginal leakage is a rare mechanical complication in PD. The clinical examination plays an essential role in confirming the diagnosis and in the therapeutic decision. If the diagnosis is uncertain, or if there is a clinical need to show the anatomy of the leak, an imaging approach becomes desirable. This complication should not prevent the progression of PD in the management of patients with ESKD.

Are preoperative inflammatory and nutritional markers important for the prognosis of patients with peritoneal metastasis of colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a type of cancer that grows from polypoid lesions developing over the years.It has a high incidence of about 1.8 million new cases annually.While screening and lifestyle modifications have stabilized the rate of CRC in high-income countries,the incidence of early-onset CRC is increasing globally.The worst prognosis for this cancer is linked to recurrence and metastasis,with peritoneal metastasis occurring in 8%to 20%of cases.In these cases,treatment with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is indicated.However,this approach is risky and requires careful selection of patients who will truly benefit from it.This article will discuss the correlation between nutrition and inflammation in patients with peritoneal metastasis and advanced CRC,emphasizing the importance of nutritional and inflammatory markers for assessing disease status.Finally,we will highlight the main biomarkers in the field.

Genomic characterization of peritoneal lavage cytology-positive gastric cancer

Objective: Positive peritoneal lavege cytology(CY1) gastric cancer is featured by dismal prognosis, with high risks of peritoneal metastasis. However, there is a lack of evidence on pathogenic mechanism and signature of CY1and there is a continuous debate on CY1 therapy. Therefore, exploring the mechanism of CY1 is crucial for treatment strategies and targets for CY1 gastric cancer.Methods: In order to figure out specific driver genes and marker genes of CY1 gastric cancer, and ultimately offer clues for potential marker and risk assessment of CY1, 17 cytology-positive gastric cancer patients and 31matched cytology-negative gastric cancer patients were enrolled in this study. The enrollment criteria were based on the results of diagnostic laparoscopy staging and cytology inspection of exfoliated cells. Whole exome sequencing was then performed on tumor samples to evaluate genomic characterization of cytology-positive gastric cancer.Results: Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO) algorithm identified 43 cytology-positive marker genes, while Mut Sig CV identified 42 cytology-positive specific driver genes. CD3G and CDKL2 were both driver and marker genes of CY1. Regarding mutational signatures, driver gene mutation and tumor subclone architecture, no significant differences were observed between CY1 and negative peritoneal lavege cytology(CY0).Conclusions: There might not be distinct differences between CY1 and CY0, and CY1 might represent the progression of CY0 gastric cancer rather than constituting an independent subtype. This genomic analysis will thus provide key molecular insights into CY1, which may have a direct effect on treatment recommendations for CY1and CY0 patients, and provides opportunities for genome-guided clinical trials and drug development.

Hyperkalemia in Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis: Clinical Use Experience with New Potassium-Binders

Background: Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on maintenance dialysis have a high risk of developing hyperkalemia. In addition to traditional approaches, a new option for the management of patients on dialysis includes the use of a potassium binder, sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC). We evaluated the effect and safety of SZC in patients with chronic PD. Objective: To present a case series that illustrates the real-world use of new potassium-binders in hyperkalemic patients on peritoneal dialysis. Methods: This case series collected 9 patients on PD with baseline potassium values > 5.5 mmol/l and who were treated with SZC 5 g once a day. Data were collected at baseline and at 1, 2, and 3 months after initiation of treatment. Results: The median age of patients was 64.5 years and the median duration of observation was 90 ± 5 days. It was observed that median serum potassium decreased (5.8 mmol/l at baseline with a range of 5.8 mmol/L - 6.8 mmol/L versus 4.5 in the third month with a range of 3.6 mmol/L - 5.3 mmol/L) after SZC treatment. Adverse events were observed in 2 (22.2%). The unique adverse event was constipation and presented in 2 patients (22.2%). Constipation was mild and transient during the observation period. No adverse events of special interest were reported. Conclusion: Normokalemia was established and maintained in this series of patients treated with SZC. No episodes of hyper- or hypo-kalemia were observed. SCZ had a good safety profile and was well tolerated over 3 months.