The hospital records of 56 patients (25M, 31F) with acute or chronic renal failure treated by peritoneal dialysis were retrospectively reviewed. Mean dialysis time was 13 +/- 15 days in acute renal failure and 32 +/- 23 months in chronic renal failure. The incidence of infectious (exit site infections and peritonitis) and non-infectious dialysis-related complication was assessed. Exit site infections were significantly more frequent in children aged 5 or less than in older patients (1/9.6 patient-month and 1/26.5 patient-month, respectively, p < 0.001). Such relationship was not found with regard to the incidence of peritonitis. There was a tendency of peritonitis rate to decrease in consecutive years was noted. This can be probably related to an increase in the number of patients, introduction of automated peritoneal dialysis, increasing experience of medical staff and patients themselves.