Formaldehyde scavenging from peritoneal dialysis solutions using reduced aminothiol compounds

Background:  Aldehydes were identified in clinical solutions, including peritoneal dialysis (PD) and cryoprotection solutions, which were used to freeze cells, tissues and embryos. Aldehydes are associated with increased cellular injury and may contribute to peritoneal membrane damage that occurs in patients on peritoneal dialysis. Recently, it was demonstrated that aldehydes could be ‘scavenged’ from these solutions by using aminothiol compounds. Although aldehydes were removed during the scavenging process, the kinetics of scavenging and the products formed were not characterized.

Methods:  Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to investigate formaldehyde scavenging from an artificial PD solution supplemented with aminothiol compounds, cysteamine or l-cysteine. Artificial PD solutions were formulated on the basis of commercial PD solutions and consisted of 132 mmol/L NaCl, 0.25 mmol/L MgCl₂, 1.25 mmol/L CaCl₂, and buffered with lactate (4.0 mmol/L) and lacked d-glucose. Formaldehyde scavenging was a two-step process involving an intermediate step followed by the formation of stable thiazolidine compounds. These included the derivatives of cysteamine and l-cysteine; thiazolidine and thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, respectively.

Conclusion:  Scavenging with aminothiol compounds masked the destructive carbonyl group (C = O) of formaldehyde and formed a compound that has antioxidant properties. The addition of aminothiol compounds may improve the biocompatibility of commercial PD solutions.