Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in patients with liver disease: is circuit life different?
OBJECTIVE
Clotting of haemofiltration circuits is a major complication of continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT), yet systemic anticoagulation risks haemorrhage. Traditionally, patients with liver failure are managed with no or minimal anticoagulation, because of abnormal clotting tests and the perceived, increased bleeding risk.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed CRRT circuit life in 50 patients; 3 groups of liver failure patients treated with CRRT (acute liver failure (ALF), acute on chronic liver disease (ACLD) and post-elective liver transplantation (LTx)), with two control groups; systemic sepsis (SS) and haematological malignancy (Haem).


RESULTS
CCRT circuit life was significantly greater in the Haem group, compared to the others; 24.3+/-23.9h, vs. 11+/-10.5 ALF, 11.6+/-6.6 ACLF, 7.4+/-5.1 LTx and 9.2+/-6.5 SS, p<0.05, with Haem group requiring fewest new CCRT circuits within 48h; 2.4+/-1.0 vs. 4.3+/-1.3 ALF, 4.2+/-2.1 ACLF, 5.3+/-1.5 LTx and 4.6+/-1.5 SS, p<0.05 and least blood transfusions; 1.2+/-1.3 vs. 4.8+/-4.2 ALF, 4.2+/-4.1 ACLF, 2.2+/-2.1 LTx and 3.0+/-1.5 SS. Transmembrane pressures were higher in those CCRT circuits with haemofilter/dialyzer clotting, compared to other causes, such as access dysfunction (123+/-74 vs. 71.8+/-29.3 mm Hg, p=0.009). In those patients in whom anticoagulation was started due to repeated filter clotting, circuit life improved from 5.6+/-3.4 to 19+/-12.7h, p<0.01.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite abnormal laboratory coagulation tests and thrombocytopenia, CCRT circuits clot frequently in liver failure patients. Anticoagulation did improve CRRT circuit survival without an obvious increase in bleeding or blood transfusion requirement. Thus anticoagulation should be considered in these patients with repeated circuit clotting.
Agarwal
Banwari
B
Department of Intensive Care, Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2QG, UK. Banwari.Agarwal@royalfree.co.uk
Shaw
Steve
S
Shankar Hari
Manu
M
Burroughs
Andrew K
AK
Davenport
Andrew
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
D000925:Anticoagulants