This study aims to compare modified CAPD (M-CAPD) and conventional CAPD (C-CAPD) in terms of delivering high-quality, goal-directed PD as well as avoiding resource wastage in prevalent ESKD patients aged 2 to ≤18 years using a randomized cross-over study design for one year.

This study hypothesizes that M-CAPD will have better ultrafiltration and solute clearance than C-CAPD.

Specific objectives

1. To determine the ultrafiltration efficiency by measuring the following:

   1. Clinical parameters: blood pressure, weight, evidence of fluid overload by the presence of edema, abnormal heart sounds (S3 gallop), lung crackles or rales, increased heart rate (tachycardia), rapid breathing (tachypnea),
   2. Change in the number of blood pressure medications before and after the intervention,
   3. Absolute and relative fluid overload using bioimpedance analyzer (BIA),
   4. Mean daily ultrafiltration (UF) or Total 24-h UF,
   5. Residual kidney function: 24-hour urine output,
   6. Glucose exposure

2. To determine the solute clearance adequacy by measuring the following:

   1. Serum sodium, chloride, potassium, bicarbonate, serum albumin, calcium, and hemoglobin,
   2. Phosphate clearance
   3. Renal and peritoneal Kt/Vurea
   4. Normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR)

3. To measure caregiver burden using a Paediatric Renal Caregiver Burden Scale (PR-CBS).

Background and Rationale Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the primary kidney replacement therapy (KRT) for children with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), particularly in low-resource settings. In these settings, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is more accessible than automated PD (APD) or hemodialysis due to the lack of power and expensive machinery.

However, standard CAPD regimens can lead to significant wastage of PD fluid. For example, using standard 2-liter bags, children often use only a portion of each bag, discarding the rest. Additionally, fixed-volume, fixed-dwell CAPD is often suboptimal for solute clearance and ultrafiltration, particularly in patients with different peritoneal membrane transport types.

Adapted APD (aAPD), pioneered by Fischbach et al., offers a better solution by combining short, low-volume exchanges with longer, high-volume ones to improve ultrafiltration and solute clearance. This study proposes a Modified CAPD (M-CAPD) that incorporates the principles of aAPD but adapted for manual (non-automated) settings.

Rationale No existing studies have applied the aAPD approach to CAPD in children or adults. This study addresses both clinical effectiveness and resource optimization in PD for children in Southeast Asia.

General Objective

To compare Modified CAPD (M-CAPD) and Conventional CAPD (C-CAPD) in terms of:

• Clinical outcomes (ultrafiltration, solute clearance),

• Resource utilization (waste reduction),

• Caregiver burden. Specific Objectives

  1. Ultrafiltration Efficiency i. Clinical parameters: BP, weight, edema, S3 gallop, lung crackles, tachycardia, tachypnea.

     ii. Number of antihypertensive medications. iii. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA). iv. Total 24-hour UF and residual urine output. v. Glucose exposure per day.

  2. Solute Clearance Adequacy i. Serum electrolytes (Na, Cl, K, HCO₃-, Ca), albumin, hemoglobin. ii. Phosphate clearance. iii. Renal and peritoneal Kt/V. iv. Normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR).

  3. Caregiver Burden i. Measured using Pediatric Renal Caregiver Burden Scale (PR-CBS). Study Design

• Design: Prospective, multicenter, randomized cross-over trial.

• Duration: 12 weeks of active intervention per participant.

• Setting: Pediatric dialysis centers in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

• Run-in Period: 2 weeks

• Intervention Phases: Each participant undergoes both C-CAPD and M-CAPD for 8 weeks total (2 months per arm), with a 2-week washout in between.

• Randomization: Computer-generated random number assignment. Sample Size

• Assuming high correlation (r=0.95), 26 patients at PGH are sufficient (13 per arm). Total across centers: 44 children aged 2 to ≤18 years.

Intervention Details Conventional CAPD (C-CAPD)

• PD solutions: 1.5%, 2.5%, 4.25% dextrose
• Fill volume: 1100-1400 mL/m²
• 3-4 exchanges per day
• Day and night dwell times: 3-6 hours (day), 8-10 hours (night) Modified CAPD (M-CAPD)
• Follows C-CAPD with addition of 1-2 short, low-volume (15-30 min) exchanges before full-volume dwell.
• Short dwell volume comes from remaining solution in the 2L bag. Monitoring and Follow-Up
• Every 2 weeks (remote or in-person)
• Monitored parameters: BP, HR, weight, edema, UF, urine output
• Data collection notebook maintained by patient/caregiver Adverse Events Monitoring

Includes:

• Exit site infection
• Peritonitis
• Hypertension or fluid overload
• Dehydration (over-UF)
• Hyperglycemia
• Hospitalization
• Withdrawal criteria detailed Outcome Measures and Data Collection Timepoints: Baseline, post-randomization (6 weeks), post-crossover (12 weeks)

Data Collected:

• Physical exam, vital signs, UF/urine output
• Lab values: electrolytes, albumin, hemoglobin, FBS
• Bioimpedance analysis
• Kt/V, nPCR
• PR-CBS for caregiver burden Data Analysis Plan
• Descriptive statistics: for demographics and baseline data
• Paired t-tests: for continuous outcomes
• McNemar's test: for categorical outcomes (e.g., edema)
• Outcomes compared within subjects (cross-over design) Ethical Considerations
• Guidelines followed: Declaration of Helsinki, ISO 14155:2011, Good Clinical Practice, Philippine Data Privacy Act (2012)
• Ethics approval: To be obtained from institutional ethics boards
• Informed consent: Required from caregivers; assent from children ≥6 years Risks
• Minor discomfort from added blood draws
• No added infection risk from M-CAPD as procedure remains closed
• Risks managed with prompt clinical support and compensation Benefits
• Improved PD efficiency and fluid management
• Reduced glucose exposure and complications
• Less wastage of PD fluid
• Cost savings for families
• Enhanced caregiver education and burden reduction
• Potential improvement in health-related quality of life Compensation
• Covers: PD supplies, lab tests, transport, meals
• Provides treatment for study-related injuries
• Free antibiotics for PD-related infections Privacy and Confidentiality
• Strict adherence to data protection guidelines
• Anonymized data with unique identifiers
• Secure physical and digital storage
• Data access restricted to PI and trained assistant
• All data deleted within 2 years of study conclusion Dissemination Plan
• Results to be shared with physicians, caregivers, and published in peer-reviewed journals
• All data anonymized in reports Intellectual Property and Legal Compliance
• Pre-existing IP remains with originator
• Jointly generated IP to be co-owned
• Philippine laws and UP policies govern research conduct Vulnerable Populations
• Pediatric patients with ESKD from lower socioeconomic backgrounds
• Extra care in informed consent and ethical oversight

Inclusion Criteria:

• CKD 5D who have been on peritoneal dialysis for at least three months.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with BSA of ≥1.5 m2,
2. Evidence of mechanical causes of low ultrafiltration capacity (hernia, peri-catheter, or genital leaks, pleuroperitoneal communication),
3. Peritoneal membrane failure (encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis),
4. Recent episode of peritonitis (within two months)
5. Those who have been on hemodialysis before switching to PD in the last three weeks.