Objective: Peritoneal dialysis [PD] was a treatment but renal crisis among systemic sclerosis [SSc] patients with Scleroderma renal crisis [SRC] are uncertain. Our objectives were to determine (a) whether peritoneal dialysis [PD] was stopped at 18 months; (b) the clinical predictors thereof and (c) the proportion of patients who needed to change dialysis modality.
Materials and Methods: A historical cohort study among scleroderma renal crisis [SRC] patients followed-up at Srinagarind Hospital, Thailand, between January 1999 and December 2014.
Results: 42 SRC patients were enrolled (30 females): 90% with the diffuse cutaneous SSc subset: mean age at SRC diagnosis 57.3+8.5 years. All were given Captopril, Enalapril, or Ramipril; 5 had renal recovery without dialysis and 22 (52.4%) underwent either hemodialysis [HD] (16; 72.7%) or PD (6; 27.3%). Overall 13 cases underwent continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis [CAPD]; 6 chose CAPD as the initial mode of dialysis and 7 changed from HD. One-third in the PD group changed mode due to peritoneal infection and/or fluid leakage. None of the PD patients were free of peritoneal dialysis within 18 months of diagnosis. Most (92.3%) died within 18 months after starting dialysis and most from SRC (75%).
Conclusion: None of the PD SRC patients were free from dialysis within 18 months of starting dialysis. One-third needed to change mode of dialysis due to complications. A minority had renal recovery without any dialysis.

Keywords: Systemic sclerosis, Scleroderma, Observational study, Peritoneal dialysis, Renal crisis