Peritoneal host defense system includes multiplicity cellular and humoral mechanisms which undergo certain modifications in patients with chronic renal failure due to existing immunological disturbances and peritoneal dialysis procedure treatment respectively. This revue concerning peritoneal defense system discuss the folloving first-line cellular and humoral mechanisms: peritoneal sequestration and removal of microorganisms via fibrin trapping and lymphatic removal; peritoneal condition of opsonization, phagocytosis and intracellular killing; peritoneal macrophages; human peritoneal mesothelial cell participation; cytokine synthesis and peritoneal cytokine network. The current information about immune mechanisms during stable continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and activation of complex and orchestrated inflammatory events while development of dialysis related peritonitis have been reported.

Keywords: peritoneal immune mechanisms, Macrophages, Neutrophils, mesothelial cells, humoral immune factors, Cytokines, Peritoneal Dialysis