Citrate versus heparin anticoagulation for continuous renal replacement therapy: an updated meta-analysis of RCTs.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect and safety of citrate versus heparin anticoagulation for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in critically ill patients by performing a meta-analysis of updated evidence.


METHODS
Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for eligible studies, and manual searches were also performed to identify additional trials. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of citrate versus heparin anticoagulation for CRRT were considered eligible for inclusion.


RESULTS
Eleven RCTs with 992 patients and 1998 circuits met the inclusion criteria. Heparin was regionally delivered in two trials and systemically delivered in nine trials. Citrate for CRRT significantly reduced the risk of circuit loss compared to regional (HR 0.52, 95 % CI 0.35–0.77, P = 0.001) and systemic (HR 0.76, 95 % CI 0.59–0.98, P = 0.04) heparin. Citrate also reduced the incidence of filter failure (RR 0.70, 95 % CI 0.50–0.98, P = 0.04). The citrate group had a significantly lower bleeding risk than the systemic heparin group (RR 0.36, 95 % CI 0.21–0.60, P < 0.001) and a similar bleeding risk to the regional heparin group (RR 0.34, 95 % CI 0.01–8.24, P = 0.51). The incidences of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and hypocalcemia were increased in the heparin and citrate groups, respectively. No significant survival difference was observed between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the lower risk of circuit loss, filter failure, bleeding, and HIT, regional citrate should be considered a better anticoagulation method than heparin for CRRT in critically ill patients without any contraindication.
Ming
M
Bai
Meilan
M
Zhou
Lijie
L
He
Feng
F
Ma
Yangping
Y
Li
Yan
Y
Yu
Pengbo
P
Wang
Li
L
Li
Rui
R
Jing
Lijuan
L
Zhao
Shiren
S
Sun
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016638:Critical Illness; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy
D000925:Anticoagulants; D019343:Citric Acid; D006493:Heparin