Perspective: The Future of Peritoneal Dialysis in the Era of Telemedicine and Artificial Intelligence.
Journal:
Blood purification
Published Date:
Aug 11, 2026
Abstract
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) represents one of the major modalities for home-based renal replacement therapy, offering autonomy and flexibility to patients with end-stage kidney disease. Despite its advantages, global uptake of PD remains low, limited by concerns regarding patient safety, complications, and the absence of continuous medical oversight. Telemedicine and artificial intelligence (AI) are emerging as transformative solutions to address these barriers. Telemedicine platforms support real-time clinical surveillance, enhance patient education, and reduce geographic disparities, while AI enables predictive modeling, personalized prescriptions, and workflow optimization. Evidence demonstrates that remote patient monitoring (RPM) of automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) reduces mortality, hospitalizations, and technique failure compared to conventional care. Modern APD cyclers, also referred to as continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) in the United States, automatically record essential treatment parameters-including ultrafiltration volumes, fill volumes, dwell times, and machine alarms-and transmit them securely to dashboards accessible by providersAI applications in PD, including prediction of peritonitis, ultrafiltration failure, and patient survival, have been reported to outperform traditional risk models. Integration of AI with telemedicine platforms enhances the capacity to interpret large data streams, enabling proactive interventions and reducing the burden on clinicians. Challenges remain, including digital equity, regulatory frameworks, clinical validation, and patient trust. However, the convergence of telemedicine and AI is reshaping nephrology into a continuous, personalized model of care. By enabling patients, improving safety, and optimizing resources, telemedicine and AI is changing from ancillary tools to the foundation of the future of PD.
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