Figure 2.

Transformation of the peritoneum with time on PD treatment with neutral pH, low GDP PD fluids. Blood microvessel density substantially increases within few months of PD. It is closely correlated with endothelial surface area, which presents the primary barrier for transport across the peritoneal dialysis membrane. Percentage of patients with substantial inflammatory cell infiltration and EMT increases with time on PD. VEGF signaling is particularly induced within the first year of PD, the TGF-β signaling cascade (pSMAD) activation is delayed but remains high during long-term treatment (Schaefer et al., 2018).