Comparison of the effects of peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis on spontaneous brain activity in CKD patients: an rs-fMRI study

Abstract Objective To compare the effects of peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis on spontaneous brain activity in patients with end-stage renal disease. Methods A total of 52 dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease, including 25 patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis (HD-CKD) and 27 patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD-CKD), and 49 healthy controls (normal control) were included. All participants underwent neuropsychological testing (Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal cognitive assessment) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations and Regional Homogeneity algorithms were employed to evaluate spontaneous brain activity. Statistical analysis was performed to discern differences between the groups. Results When compared with the normal control group, the PD-CKD group exhibited significant alterations in fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations in various cerebellum regions and other brain areas, while the HD-CKD group showed decreased fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations in the bilateral pericalcarine cortex. The Regional Homogeneity values in the PD-CKD group were notably different than those in the normal control group, particularly in regions such as the bilateral caudate nucleus and the right putamen. Conclusion Both peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis modalities impact brain activity, but manifest differently in end-stage renal disease patients. Understanding these differences is crucial for optimizing patient care.