Citrate Versus Heparin in Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy :

Citrate Versus Heparin in Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy : Effect on Cardiovascular System and Clot Circuit in Critically Ill Patients

This study is a prospective, multicenter, open-label randomized trial comparing regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) with heparin-free protocol. The function mode was continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) in post-dilution mode. The investigators measured hemodynamic changes at certain time points after starting CRRT (0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 hr).Levels of inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-ɑ) were measured at day 1 and day 3

Twenty patients were randomized into heparin group and 11 patients were in citrate group. The cardiac performance were not significantly different between 2 groups at every time point. The inflammatory cytokines declined similarly in both treatment arms. The maximum filter survivial time was longer in a RCA group but not reach statistically significant (44.64±26.56 hr vs p=0.693 in citrate and heparin free group respectively).There was no serious side effects dung both treatment arm even in the group of liver dysfunction patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• need for CRRT,
• no contraindication to CRRT

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with previous history of chronic kidney disease (CKD) (baseline serum creatinine > 2 mg/dL (male) or > 1.5 mg/dL (female)
• history of renal transplantation
• known pregnancy
• previous dialysis within 30 days
• severe liver disease
• end stage heart disease or untreatable malignancy
• moribund patients with expected survival less than 30 days
• previous use of heparin or other anticoagulant, antiplatelet within 7 day except use for deep vein thrombosis
• active bleeding at the time of enrollment and/or severe coagulopathy
• receiving blood or blood components prior to enrollment
• hemoglobin less than 7.5 g/dL and/or platelet count less than 100,000/mm3
• previous underlying clotting disorders such as hypercoagulable state
• severe malnutrition (Body mass index (BMI ) less than 18)
• underwent CRRT for other reasons besides acute kidney injury (AKI)