The Effect of Far-Infrared Therapy on the Peritoneal Membrane Transport Characteristics of Uremic Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis: An Open-Prospective Proof-of-Concept Study

Long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) can lead to detrimental changes in peritoneal membrane function, which may be related to the accumulation of glucose degradation products. A previous study demonstrated that 6 months of far-infrared (FIR) therapy may decrease glucose degradation products in PD dialysate. Due to limited literature on this matter, this study aims to investigate the effect of FIR therapy on the peritoneal membrane transport characteristics of PD patients. Patients were grouped according to baseline peritoneal transport status: lower transporters (low and low-average) and higher transporters (high-average and high). Both groups underwent 40 min of FIR therapy twice daily for 1 year. In lower transporters, FIR therapy increased weekly dialysate creatinine clearance (6.91 L/wk/1.73 m2; p = 0.04) and D/P creatinine (0.05; p = 0.01). In higher transporters, FIR therapy decreased D/P creatinine (−0.05; p = 0.01) and increased D/D0 glucose (0.05; p = 0.006). Fifty percent of high transporter patients shifted to high-average status after FIR therapy. FIR therapy may decrease D/P creatinine for patients in the higher transporter group and cause high transporters to shift to high-average status, which suggests the potential of FIR therapy in improving peritoneal membrane function in PD patients.