title: We Use Heparin as the Anticoagulant for CRRT.
abstract: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) usually requires anticoagulation to prevent clotting of the extracorporeal circuit. Interruptions due to filter clotting significantly reduce total therapy time and CRRT efficacy. Although heparin has traditionally been the most common anticoagulant used for CRRT, increasing evidence suggests that heparin is less effective than regional citrate in prolonging circuit life and considerably increases patient bleeding risk. Advantages of regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) include less bleeding, increased circuit life, and less blood transfusion requirement. RCA should be the anticoagulant of choice for CRRT.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.
authors.forename: Nithin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karakala
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors.forename: Ashita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tolwani
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002951:Citrates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D009398:Nephrology / Q000379:methods*; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D002951:Citrates; D006493:Heparin