Renal Replacement Therapy In Patients Research Articles

Impact of hydroxyethyl starch 70/0.5 on acute kidney injury after gastroenterological surgery

BackgroundPrevious studies reported a higher mortality risk and a greater need for renal replacement therapy in patients administered hydroxyethyl starch (HES) rather than other fluid resuscitation preparations. In this study, we investigated the association between 6% HES 70/0.5 use and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in gastroenterological surgery patients.MethodsWe conducted retrospective full-cohort and propensity-score-based analyses of patients who underwent gastroenterological surgery between June 2011 and August 2013 in a Japanese university hospital. The study sample comprised 66 AKI and 2,152 non-AKI patients in the full-cohort analysis and 35 AKI and 1,269 non-AKI patients in the propensity-score-based analysis. Propensity scores were calculated using an ordered logistic regression model in which the dependent variable comprised three groups based on HES infusion volumes (0, 1–999, and ≥ 1,000 ml). The association between HES groups and postoperative AKI incidence was analyzed using multiple logistic regression models. Other candidate independent variables included patient characteristics and intraoperative measures.ResultsIn the full-cohort analysis, 40 (60.6%) AKI patients were diagnosed as "risk", 15 (22.7%) as "injury," and 11 (16.7%) as "failure". In the propensity-score-based analysis, the corresponding values were 22 (62.9%), 8 (22.9%), and 5 (14.3%). There was no significant association between total infused HES and postoperative AKI incidence in either the full-cohort or the propensity-score-based analysis (P = 0.168 and P = 0.42, respectively).ConclusionsAKI incidence was not associated with clinical 6% HES 70/0.5 administration in gastroenterological surgery patients treated at a single center.

Kidney transplant in Nigeria: a single centre experience

IntroductionKidney transplant is the preferred renal replacement therapy for patients with end stage kidney disease. However management of patients with kidney transplant in resource poor countries is evolving and groaning under several mental, financial and infrastructural challenges. The objective of the study is to evaluate the management of patients with kidney transplant in a kidney care Centre in Nigeria.MethodsThis was a non-randomized prospective study. The study population were post-transplant patients presenting between 1st August 2010 and 31st December 2014.The biodata, pre and post-transplant details of these patients were documented. The data was analysed using SPSS Vs 17.ResultsA total of 47 patients were studied with M: F ratio of 4:1, the mean age was 45.4 ± 13.6 years. Chronic glomerulonephritis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and HIV related kidney disease were the commonest cause of CKD. Financial constraint delayed transplant in 66% and non-availability of donor in 17.2%. About 90% of the transplants were in India and 81% either financed the transplant either directly or through a relation. There was no cadaveric transplant and about 70% of the donors were not related. Tacrolimus, mycophenolate and prednisolone were most frequently used immunosuppressive combination. The one and three years graft survival were 95.3% and 67.6% respectively while corresponding patients survival were 97.7% and 82.4% respectively. Septicaemia, acute rejection and urinary tract infection were most common complications.ConclusionManagement of patients with kidney transplant has good prospect despite the challenges.

Bacterial contamination of hemodialysis water in three randomly selected centers in South Western Nigeria.

Hemodialysis (HD) is the most common method of renal replacement therapy for patients with either acute kidney injury in the failure stage or end stage kidney failure in Nigeria. The number of dialysis centers in Nigeria has risen exponentially from 10 centers two decades ago to more than 120 centers in 2015. The number of patients needing renal replacement therapy in the country in the form of HD has also risen close to a projected 2000/year. The outcome from HD in Nigeria is poor as a result of a myriad of interwoven factors such as complications of cardiovascular diseases and suboptimal dialysis dose primarily due to economic factors. These are often complicated by episodes of dialysis water related bacteremia, possibly as a result of the apparent lack of a standardized guideline or protocol for monitoring dialysis water treatment system which is the driving force of dialysis units. This is a multicenter laboratory-based study designed to determine the microbiological quality of samples of HD water and dialysate in randomly selected dialysis units in three major government teaching hospitals in Nigeria. Water samples were aseptically and serially collected from three HD units. The samples were taken from 6 points at each center coded A, B, and C over a 6-month period. The water system in the three dialysis centers were grossly contaminated with Gram-negative aerobic bacteria such as Pseudomonas species and Moraxella species at all the points in the three centers. Conventionally, water treatment is a major determinant of morbidity and mortality in HD units, and the microbial quality is a major factor involved. There is evidence of bacterial contamination in the dialysis units sampled in this study. There is thus the compelling need for periodic microbiological monitoring of water after each treatment step. A uniform national guideline as part of an effective quality assurance protocol in infection surveillance is also advocated for dialysis units in Nigeria.

Consumptive Coagulopathy after Commencement of Continuous Renal-Replacement Therapy in Patients with Decompensated Cirrhosis: A Case Series

Over a four-month period, three patients with ascites and hyponatraemia secondary to decompensated cirrhosis were admitted to the Intensive Care unit (ICU) of a quaternary referral centre for liver disease and transplantation for further management. Each had a stable documented coagulopathy without bleeding on ICU admission. Following commencement of anticoagulant-free continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), a severe bleeding diathesis developed in all three patients necessitating transfusion of large volumes of blood products. The clinical presentation and results of detailed coagulation profiles and thromboelastography (TEG) were consistent with the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with hyperfibrinolysis. The onset of DIC in all three cases was associated with significant morbidity. One patient went on to receive an orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) and death was the end result in the subsequent two cases. Due to the temporal relationship, we hypothesise that the initiation of CRRT may have contributed to the derangement in coagulation status in these patients. Though the exact mechanism is uncertain, it may be related to a higher rate of adsorption of high molecular weight kinins or the CRRT membrane’s ability to bind endogenous heparinoids. These cases highlight the precarious nature of the coagulation cascade in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Initiation of CRRT may profoundly disrupt that tenuous balance and should be preceded by careful consideration of the potential complications including DIC and its associated morbidity.

The Prevalence of Fabry Disease in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in Turkey: The TURKFAB Study

Background/Aims: Fabry disease is a treatable cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) characterized by a genetic deficiency of α-galactosidase A. European Renal Best Practice (ERBP) recommends screening for Fabry disease in CKD patients. However, this is based on expert opinion and there are no reports of the prevalence of Fabry disease in stage 1-5 CKD. Hence, we investigated the prevalence of Fabry disease in CKD patients not receiving renal replacement therapy. Methods: This prospective study assessed α-galactosidase activity in dried blood spots in 313 stage 1-5 CKD patients, 167 males, between ages of 18-70 years whose etiology of CKD was unknown and were not receiving renal replacement therapy. The diagnosis was confirmed by GLA gene mutation analysis. Results: Three (all males) of 313 CKD patients (0.95%) were diagnosed of Fabry disease, for a prevalence in males of 1.80%. Family screening identified 8 aditional Fabry patients with CKD. Of a total of 11 Fabry patients, 7 were male and started enzyme replacement therapy and 4 were female. The most frequent manifestations in male patients were fatigue (100%), tinnitus, vertigo, acroparesthesia, hypohidrosis, cornea verticillata and angiokeratoma (all 85%), heat intolerance (71%), and abdominal pain (57%). The most frequent manifestations in female patients were fatigue and cornea verticillata (50%), and tinnitus, vertigo and angiokeratoma (25%). Three patients had severe episodic abdominal pain attacks and proteinuria, and were misdiagnosed as familial Mediterranean fever. Conclusions: The prevalence of Fabry disease in selected CKD patients is in the range found among renal replacement therapy patients, but the disease is diagnosed at an earlier, treatable stage. These data support the ERBP recommendation to screen for Fabry disease in patients with CKD of unknown origin.

Renal Replacement Therapy in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Device: What do the Cardiologists Need to Know?

Renal failure after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation occurs either due to worsening chronic kidney disease which is common in end-stage heart failure, or due to acute kidney injury in the peri-implantation period, and is associated with high morbidity and short-term mortality. The increased utilization of LVAD in refractory heart failure either as a bridge to transplantation or destination therapy will eventually create a population of patients with LVADs who are dialysis-dependent. There are multiple challenges encountered during dialysis of patients with LVADs including the unfamiliarity of nephrologists with the LVAD technology, difficulty in hemodynamic monitoring with continuous flow devices, risk of access site infection or bleeding and poor arteriovenous fistula maturation and these reasons are the source for the reluctance of outpatient dialysis centers to accept such cases. The nephrologists as well as cardiologists should be familiar with these obstacles to avoid adverse consequences to these high risk patients. Herein, we explore the challenges encountered during dialysis of patients with LVADs.

Nafamostat Mesilate as an Anticoagulant During Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in Patients With High Bleeding Risk: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Nafamostat mesilate (NM), a synthetic serine protease inhibitor, has been used increasingly as an anticoagulant during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). However, there, are limited data from randomized studies on NM use in patients with a bleeding tendency. This prospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of NM use during CRRT in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) patients at high risk of bleeding.Patients with AKI at high risk of bleeding were randomized into the NM and no anticoagulant (NA) groups. The primary outcome was the treatment efficacy represented by the filter lifespan. Several parameters, including safety and patient survival rates at 30 and 90 days, were analyzed as secondary outcomes.Fifty-five patients were included in this study (NM group = 31, NA group = 24). The baseline characteristics did not significantly differ between the groups. The mean filter lifespan was significantly longer in the NM group than in the NA group (31.7 ± 24.1 versus 19.5 ± 14.9 hours; P = 0.035). The most common cause of filter failure was filter clotting, which was significantly more frequent in the NA group than in the NM group (59.6% versus 37.7%, P = 0.024). The Cox proportional hazards model showed a 42.2% longer filter lifespan in the NM group compared with the NA group (hazard ratio, 0.578; 95% confidence interval, 0.362–0.923; P = 0.022). There were no significant differences in the frequencies of transfusions and major bleeding between the groups. Patient survival rates at 30 and 90 days after CRRT initiation were comparable between the groups.Nafamostat mesilate is a safe and effective anticoagulant for CRRT and allows sufficient filter survival without increasing the risk of bleeding in critically ill patients with AKI and bleeding tendencies.

Safety and Efficacy of Combined Extracorporeal CO2 Removal and Renal Replacement Therapy in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Acute Kidney Injury: The Pulmonary and Renal Support in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Study.

To assess the safety and efficacy of combining extracorporeal CO2 removal with continuous renal replacement therapy in patients presenting with acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute kidney injury. Prospective human observational study. Patients received volume-controlled mechanical ventilation according to the acute respiratory distress syndrome net protocol. Continuous venovenous hemofiltration therapy was titrated to maintain maximum blood flow and an effluent flow of 45 mL/kg/h with 33% predilution. Eleven patients presenting with both acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute kidney injury required renal replacement therapy. A membrane oxygenator (0.65 m) was inserted within the hemofiltration circuit, either upstream (n = 7) or downstream (n = 5) of the hemofilter. Baseline corresponded to tidal volume 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight without extracorporeal CO2 removal. The primary endpoint was 20% reduction in PaCO2 at 20 minutes after extracorporeal CO2 removal initiation. Tidal volume was subsequently reduced to 4 mL/kg for the remaining 72 hours. Twelve combined therapies were conducted in the 11 patients. Age was 70 ± 9 years, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II was 69 ± 13, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was 14 ± 4, lung injury score was 3 ± 0.5, and PaO2/FIO2 was 135 ± 41. Adding extracorporeal CO2 removal at tidal volume 6 mL/kg decreased PaCO2 by 21% (95% CI, 17-25%), from 47 ± 11 to 37 ± 8 Torr (p < 0.001). Lowering tidal volume to 4 mL/kg reduced minute ventilation from 7.8 ± 1.5 to 5.2 ± 1.1 L/min and plateau pressure from 25 ± 4 to 21 ± 3 cm H2O and raised PaCO2 from 37 ± 8 to 48 ± 10 Torr (all p < 0.001). On an average of both positions, the oxygenator's blood flow was 410 ± 30 mL/min and the CO2 removal rate was 83 ± 20 mL/min. The oxygenator blood flow (p <0.001) and the CO2 removal rate (p = 0.083) were higher when the membrane oxygenator was placed upstream of the hemofilter. There was no safety concern. Combining extracorporeal CO2 removal and continuous venovenous hemofiltration in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute kidney injury is safe and allows efficient blood purification together with enhanced lung protective ventilation.

Infection-related hospitalizations over 30 years of follow-up in patients starting renal replacement therapy at pediatric age.

BackgroundPediatric renal replacement therapy (RRT) patients surviving long-term are at a much higher risk of mortality compared with the age-matched general population. Recently, we demonstrated a transition from cardiovascular disease to infection as the main cause of death in a long-term follow-up study of pediatric RRT. Here, we explore the burden of infections requiring hospitalization over 30 years of follow-up on RRT.MethodsThe cohort comprised all 234 Dutch patients on RRT under 15 years of age between 1972 and1992. We analyzed infection-related hospitalizations during the period 1980–2010. We evaluated the Hospital Admission Rate (HAR) per patient-years (py) and infectious over non-infectious HAR ratio (HARR).ResultsThe HAR decreased significantly over time for all patients. The rate of hemodialysis-related infections decreased between 1980 and 1999, but stabilized during 2000–2010, whereas peritoneal dialysis-related infections decreased progressively. Transplantation-related infections did not change, except for urinary tract infections (UTIs), which increased significantly from 3.3/100 py [95%CI 3.2–3.4] in 1980–1989 to 4.4/100 py [4.2–4.5] in 2000–2010 (p <0.001). The contribution of infection to HAR increased significantly in transplanted patients (HARR: 1980–1989: 0.25 [0.2–0.3]; 2000–2010: 1.0 [0.79–1.27], p <0.001).ConclusionsOur findings indicate a relative increase in infections requiring hospitalization over time in patients starting RRT during the pediatric age, especially severe UTIs in transplantation. More attention paid to urological abnormalities in cases of recurrent UTI and tailored adjustment of immunosuppression may reduce risk in these patients.

De novo mTOR inhibitor-based immunosuppression in ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation.

ABO-incompatible (ABOi) kidney transplantation (KTx) has become an accepted therapeutic option in renal replacement therapy for patients without a blood group-compatible living donor. Using different desensitization strategies, most centers apply B-cell depletion with rituximab and maintenance immunosuppression (IS) with tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid. This high load of total IS leads to an increased rate of surgical complications and virus infections in ABOi patients. Our aim was to establish ABOi KTx using an immunosuppressive regimen, which is effective in preventing acute rejection without increasing the risk for viral infections. Therefore, we selected a de novo immunosuppressive protocol with low-dose calcineurin inhibitor and the mTOR inhibitor everolimus for our ABOi program. Here, we report the first 25 patients with a complete three-yr follow-up treated with this regimen. Three-yr patient survival and graft survival were 96% and 83%. The rate of acute T-cell-mediated rejections was low (12%). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was evident in one patient only (4%). Surgical complications were common (40%), but mild in 80% of cases. We demonstrate that ABOi KTx with a de novo mTOR inhibitor-based regimen is feasible without severe surgical or immunological complications and a low rate of viral infections.

Arterial blood pressure and heart rate regulation in shock state.

Circulatory shock is a complicated problem that carries a high risk of complications and mortality for critically ill patients. The heart rate and blood pressure targets to which a patient in shock should be resuscitated remain a challenge to intensivists. While the ideal blood pressure and heart rate in circulatory shock are still not definitive, recent studies have begun to refine these targets. A recent trial comparing a mean arterial pressure target of 80-85 mmHg with a target of 65-70 mmHg showed no difference in mortality, with a decreased need for renal replacement therapy in patients with pre-existing hypertension based on subgroup analysis. Regulation of heart rate was defined by a trial demonstrating that heart rate control in patients with severe sepsis on high-dose norepinephrine with esmolol titration did not result in additional adverse events. The ideal target blood pressure in the resuscitation of circulatory shock is variable and likely depends on prior blood pressure. Heart rate regulation with β-blockade appears to be safe in selected patients when accompanied by adequate resuscitation and monitoring.

Understanding cost of care for patients on renal replacement therapy: looking beyond fixed tariffs.

In a number of countries, reimbursement to hospitals providing renal dialysis services is set according to a fixed tariff. While the cost of maintenance dialysis and transplant surgery are amenable to a system of fixed tariffs, patients with established renal failure commonly present with comorbid conditions that can lead to variations in the need for hospitalization beyond the provision of renal replacement therapy. Patient-level cost data for incident renal replacement therapy patients in England were obtained as a result of linkage of the Hospital Episodes Statistics dataset to UK Renal Registry data. Regression models were developed to explore variations in hospital costs in relation to treatment modality, number of years on treatment and factors such as age and comorbidities. The final models were then used to predict annual costs for patients with different sets of characteristics. Excluding the cost of renal replacement therapy itself, inpatient costs generally decreased with number of years on treatment for haemodialysis and transplant patients, whereas costs for patients receiving peritoneal dialysis remained constant. Diabetes was associated with higher mean annual costs for all patients irrespective of treatment modality and hospital setting. Age did not have a consistent effect on costs. Combining predicted hospital costs with the fixed costs of renal replacement therapy showed that the total cost differential for a patient continuing on dialysis rather than receiving a transplant is considerable following the first year of renal replacement therapy, thus reinforcing the longer-term economic advantage of transplantation over dialysis for the health service.

Role of renal replacement therapy in patients with type 1 hepatorenal syndrome receiving combination treatment of vasoconstrictor plus albumin

PurposeUtilization of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in cirrhotic patients has been controversial and is typically dependent on the status of transplantation. A better understanding of the central role for arterial vasodilatation in the pathogenesis of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) has led to routine use of vasoconstrictors in combination with albumin as a medical therapy for HRS with prolonged patient survival. The role of RRT in HRS patients receiving such treatment, however, has not yet been examined. MethodsA total of 80 patients with type 1 HRS who received a combination therapy of vasoconstrictors and albumin were enrolled into a retrospective cohort study. The effects of RRT status on clinical outcome were analyzed. ResultsBoth short-term (30 days) and long-term (180 days) survival was similar between RRT and non-RRT groups of patients, but the length of hospital stay was significantly longer among patients in the RRT group, which remain unchanged despite adjustment of status for liver transplantation. ConclusionsBased on our observation, routine use of RRT may not be beneficial in patients with type 1 HRS receiving combination treatment of vasoconstrictor plus albumin. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and refine the specific indications for RRT in this patient population.

Fluid type and the use of renal replacement therapy in sepsis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Fluid resuscitation, along with the early administration of antibiotics, is the cornerstone of treatment for patients with sepsis. However, whether differences in resuscitation fluids impact on the requirements for renal replacement therapy (RRT) remains unclear. To examine this issue, we performed a network meta-analysis (NMA), including direct and indirect comparisons, that addressed the effect of different resuscitation fluids on the use of RRT in patients with sepsis. The data sources MEDLINE, EMBASE, ACPJC, CINAHL and Cochrane Central Register were searched up to March 2014. Eligible studies included randomized trials reported in any language that enrolled adult patients with sepsis or septic shock and addressed the use of RRT associated with alternative resuscitation fluids. The risk of bias for individual studies and the overall certainty of the evidence were assessed. Ten studies (6664 patients) that included a total of nine direct comparisons were assessed. NMA at the four-node level showed that an increased risk of receiving RRT was associated with fluid resuscitation with starch versus crystalloid [odds ratio (OR) 1.39, 95% credibility interval (CrI) 1.17-1.66, high certainty]. The data suggested no difference between fluid resuscitation with albumin and crystalloid (OR 1.04, 95% CrI 0.78-1.38, moderate certainty) or starch (OR 0.74, 95% CrI 0.53-1.04, low certainty). NMA at the six-node level showed a decreased risk of receiving RRT with balanced crystalloid compared to heavy starch (OR 0.50, 95% CrI 0.34-0.74, moderate certainty) or light starch (OR 0.70, 95% CrI 0.49-0.99, high certainty). There was no significant difference between balanced crystalloid and saline (OR 0.85, 95% CrI 0.56-1.30, low certainty) or albumin (OR 0.82, 95% CrI 0.49-1.37, low certainty). Of note, these trials vary in terms of case mix, fluids evaluated, duration of fluid exposure and risk of bias. Imprecise estimates contributed to low confidence in most estimates of effect. Among the patients with sepsis, fluid resuscitation with crystalloids compared to starch resulted in reduced use of RRT; the same may be true for albumin versus starch.

Erratum to: Regional citrate anticoagulation for renal replacement therapies in patients with acute kidney injury: a position statement of the Work Group “Renal Replacement Therapies in Critically Ill Patients” of the Italian Society of Nephrology

Patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) on renal replacement therapy (RRT) are at increased risk for bleeding but usually require anticoagulation of the extracorporeal circuit, a key prerequisite for delivery of an adequate RRT dose. To this end, many anti-hemostatic strategies have been proposed, unfractionated heparin—with all of its significant drawbacks and complications—being the most common method used so far. In this clinical context, regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) could represent the most promising strategy, and it has been endorsed by recent guidelines on AKI. The aim of this position statement is to critically review the current evidence on RCA for the extracorporeal circuit of RRT in patients with AKI, in order to provide suggestions for its application in clinical practice. To this purpose, the most relevant clinical studies and recent guidelines on AKI with special regard to anti-hemostatic strategies for RRT circuit maintenance have been reviewed and commented. Experts from the Working Group “Renal Replacement Therapies in Critically Ill Patients” of the Italian Society of Nephrology have prepared this position paper, which discusses the basic principles, advantages and drawbacks of RCA based on the available safety and efficacy data. Advice is given on how to use and monitor RCA in the different RRT modalities, in order to avoid complications while maximizing the delivery of the prescribed RRT dose.

RENAL FUNCTION REPLACEMENT SERVICES IN ROMANIA

Chronic renal failure consists of the progressive, slow loss of the kidney function over several years, as a long-term chronic condition affecting effective kidney functioning. In Romania, nephrology medical care is given in outpatient facilities, nephrology facilities with beds, dialysis facilities (haemo- and peritoneal dialysis) and renal transplant facilities. In 2007 – 2012, the period under study, the number of incident renal replacement therapy patients doubled in Romania, whereas their median age range increased by 4.5 years while area coverage with this type of medical service unfortunately remained poor. Keywords: Chronic renal failure, dialysis, transplant, market share, dialysis centres Normal 0 21 false false false RO X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Table Normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

When to initiate renal replacement therapy: The trend of dialysis initiation.

The timing of renal replacement therapy for patients with end-stage renal disease has been subject to considerable variation. The United States Renal Data System shows an ascending trend of early dialysis initiation until 2010, at which point it decreased slightly for the following 2 years. In the 1990s, nephrologists believed that early initiation of dialysis could improve patient survival. Based on the Canadian-United States Peritoneal Dialysis study, the National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative recommended that dialysis should be initiated early. Since 2001, several observational studies and 1 randomized controlled trial have found no beneficial effect when patients were placed on dialysis early. In contrast, they found that an increase in mortality was associated with early dialysis initiation. The most recent dialysis initiation guidelines recommend that dialysis should be initiated at an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of greater than or equal to 6 mL/min per 1.73 m(2). Nevertheless, the decision to start dialysis is mainly based on a predefined eGFR value, and no convincing evidence has demonstrated that patients would benefit from early dialysis initiation as indicated by the eGFR. Even today, the optimal dialysis initiation time remains unknown. The decision of when to start dialysis should be based on careful clinical evaluation.

Minimizing risks associated with renal replacement therapy in patients with Ebola virus disease

Acute kidney injury in Ebola virus disease Definitive studies describing the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD) are awaited. However, anecdotal reports emerging from Africa and centers treating small numbers of patients outside Africa suggest that AKI, often with severe electrolyte abnormalities, is a common finding in patients with EVD due to vomiting and diarrhea and is an important contributor to mortality. Since laboratory testing in these patients exposes health-care workers and laboratory personnel to additional risk and most patients with EVD have been treated in centers in West Africa with limited resources, AKI often goes undiagnosed, and renal replacement therapy (RRT) is not readily available to the vast majority of Africans with EVD. Therefore, most experience with providing RRT to patients with EVD has been in centers in Europe and the United States. Can RRT be provided to patients with EVD without infecting health-care workers? Though protocols have been established by inter national organizations, including Medecins Sans Frontieres, to minimize the risk of transmission of Ebola virus from patients to health-care providers, the experience in the United States underscores the importance of having extensively trained personnel and comprehensive systems in place. At the time this article was written, at least 18 patients with EVD had been treated outside of Africa, all in Europe and the United States. Most of these patients were health-care workers who were infected while caring for patients with EVD in Africa and were subsequently transported to their home countries for treatment. Of the nine patients treated for EVD in the United States, seven were infected in West Africa and two were nurses infected while caring for a patient with EVD in the United States. It is noteworthy that each person with EVD who was transported from Africa directly to hos

Safety and efficacy of extracorporeal CO2 removal combined with continuous renal replacement therapy in patients presenting both acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute kidney injury

Pulmonary overdistension has been observed in 33% of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) despite low tidal volume (6 ml/kg ideal body weight) ventilation [1]. Tidal volume (VT) reduction from 6 to 4 ml/kg attenuates overdistension but is associated with hypercarbia [2]. We thought to combine extracorporeal CO2 removal (ECCO2R) with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) through the insertion of an oxygenator membrane within the hemofiltration circuit in patients presenting both ARDS and acute kidney injury (AKI).

Citrate for continuous renal replacement therapy: safer, better and cheaper.

In a previous issue of Critical Care, Schilder and colleagues report the results of their multicenter trial (Citrate Anticoagulation Versus Systemic Heparinization; CASH) comparing regional anticoagulation with citrate to heparin anticoagulation. They found that citrate was safer, more efficacious and cheaper than heparin. In contrast to the largest previous trial, however, a survival benefit was not found, which was the primary endpoint of the CASH trial. Different explanations are possible, including selection bias and a lower severity of disease. Selection bias was high: only 6% of the renal replacement therapy patients were included (versus 56% in the previous trial) and exclusion was 56% for increased risk of bleeding, 2.5 times as frequent as in the previous trial. Thus, the trial with survival benefit apparently included more patients with risk of bleeding and also more severely ill patients and these are the groups that potentially benefit the most from citrate. Nevertheless, the CASH trial is the third large randomized trial showing superiority of citrate over heparin, supporting the recommendation of citrate as first choice anticoagulant.