title: Hemodialysis without anticoagulation. One-year prospective trial in hospitalized patients at risk for bleeding.
abstract: This prospective study evaluated a protocol for hemodialysis without anticoagulation in a diverse group of hospitalized patients in unstable condition with relative contraindications to anticoagulation. Of 262 attempts at hemodialysis without anticoagulation in 49 patients, 239 hemodialysis treatments (91 percent) were successfully completed. Approximately 7 percent of the attempts required conversion to a low-dose heparin regimen because of clotting in the extracorporeal dialysis circuit. Fewer than 2 percent of the dialysis treatments resulted in clotting in the extracorporeal circuit sufficient to interrupt hemodialysis. Partial thromboplastin times and activated clotting times did not change during these hemodialysis treatments. Solute clearance, ultrafiltration rate, and decrements in arterial oxygen concentration and platelet count were not different from those in patients who underwent hemodialysis with anticoagulation. There were no episodes of accelerated bleeding associated with this dialysis method. This study indicates that hemodialysis without anticoagulation can be reliable and effective in closely monitored situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Onorato
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Sharar
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Dennis
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007688:Kidneys, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants