The change in renal replacement therapy on acute renal failure in a general intensive care unit in a university hospital and its clinical efficacy: a Japanese experience

Changes in acute blood purification therapy in critical care: republication of the article published in the Japanese Journal of Artificial Organs

Acute blood purification therapy is an essential artificial organ in critical care. In the review article, looking back on the history, we describe our present knowledge and techniques of acute blood purification therapy in critical care. The topics include continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF), online HDF as an artificial liver support, blood purification therapy aiming to remove pathogenic substances of sepsis, a procedure for connecting a CRRT device into an extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation circuit, and replacement fluid for CHDF. We also raise remaining issues and clarify the future direction of acute blood purification therapy in critical care. This review was created based on a translation of the Japanese review written in the Japanese Journal of Artificial Organs in 2017 (Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 67-70), with adding some references.

Hemofiltration compared to hemodialysis for acute kidney injury: systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effect of renal replacement therapy (RRT), delivered as hemofiltration vs. hemodialysis, on clinical outcomes in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL databases and conference abstracts were searched to June 2012 for parallel-group or crossover randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating hemofiltration vs. hemodialysis in patients with AKI. Two authors independently selected studies and abstracted data on study quality and outcomes. Additional information was obtained from trial authors. We pooled data using random-effects models.

Results

Of 6,657 citations, 19 RCTs (10 parallel-group and 9 crossover) met inclusion criteria. Sixteen trials used continuous RRT. Study quality was variable. The primary analysis included three parallel-group trials comparing similar doses of hemofiltration and hemodialysis; sensitivity analyses included trials comparing combined hemofiltration-hemodialysis or dissimilar doses. We found no effect of hemofiltration on mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73 to 1.25, P = 0.76; three trials, n = 121 (primary analysis); RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.38, P = 0.38; eight trials, n = 540 (sensitivity analysis)) or other clinical outcomes (RRT dependence in survivors, vasopressor use, organ dysfunction) compared to hemodialysis. Hemofiltration appeared to shorten time to filter failure (mean difference (MD) -7 hours, 95% CI (-19,+5), P = 0.24; two trials, n = 50 (primary analysis); MD -5 hours, 95% CI (-10, -1), P = 0.01; three trials, n = 113 (including combined hemofiltration-hemodialysis trials comparing similar doses); MD -6 hours, 95% CI (-10, -1), P = 0.02; five trials, n = 383 (sensitivity analysis)). Data primarily from crossover RCTs suggested that hemofiltration increased clearance of medium to larger molecules, including inflammatory cytokines, compared to hemodialysis, although almost no studies measured changes in serum concentrations. Meta-analyses were based on very limited data.

Conclusions

Data from small RCTs do not suggest beneficial clinical outcomes from hemofiltration, but confidence intervals were wide. Hemofiltration may increase clearance of medium to larger molecules. Larger trials are required to evaluate effects on clinical outcomes.

Comparison of sustained hemodiafiltration with continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration for the treatment of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury

Despite improvements in medical care, the mortality of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) who require renal replacement therapy (RRT) remains high. We describe a new approach, sustained hemodiafiltration, to treat patients who suffered from acute kidney injury and were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). In our study, 60 critically ill patients with AKI who required RRT were treated with either continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) or sustained hemodiafiltration (S-HDF). The former was performed by administering a postfilter replacement fluid at an effluent rate of 35 mL/kg/h, and the latter was performed by administering a postfilter replacement fluid at a dialysate-flow rate of 300-500 mL/min. The S-HDF was delivered on a daily basis. The baseline characteristics of the patients in the two treatment groups were similar. The primary study outcome--survival until discharge from the ICU or survival for 30 days, whichever was earlier--did not significantly differ between the two groups: 70% after CVVHDF and 87% after S-HDF. The hospital-survival rate after CVVHDF was 63% and that after S-HDF was 83% (P < 0.05). The number of patients who showed renal recovery at the time of discharge from the ICU and the hospital and the duration of the ICU stay significantly differed between the two treatments (P < 0.05). Although there was no significant difference between the mean number of treatments performed per patient, the mean duration of daily treatment in the S-HDF group was 6.5 +/- 1.0 h, which was significantly shorter. Although the total convective volumes--the sum of the replacement-fluid and fluid-removal volumes--did not differ significantly, the dialysate-flow rate was higher in the S-HDF group. Our results suggest that in comparison with conventional continuous RRT, including high-dose CVVHDF, more intensive renal support in the form of postdilution S-HDF will decrease the mortality and accelerate renal recovery in critically ill patients with AKI.

High-dose renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury: Systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of renal replacement therapy dose on mortality and dialysis dependence in patients with acute kidney injury.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to October 2009; PubMed "Related Articles;" bibliographies of included trials; and additional information from trial authors.

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized and quasi-randomized, controlled trials in adults with acute kidney injury prescribed highvs. standard-dose continuous renal replacement therapy (> or =30 mL/kg/hr vs. <30 mL/kg/hr), intermittent hemodialysis, or sustained low-efficiency dialysis (daily vs. alternate day, or by target biochemistry).

DATA EXTRACTION

Three authors independently selected studies and extracted data on outcomes and study quality. Meta-analyses used random-effects models.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Of 5416 citations, 12 trials (n = 3999) met inclusion criteria. Modalities included continuous renal replacement therapy (7 trials), intermittent hemodialysis (3 trials), sustained low-efficiency dialysis (1 trial), and all three (1 trial). Study quality was moderate-high. Meta-analyses found no effect of high-dose renal replacement therapy on mortality (risk ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.77-1.03; 12 trials; n = 3954) or dialysis dependence among survivors (risk ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-1.44; 8 trials with events; n = 1743). The effect on mortality was similar (all interaction p values were nonsignificant) in patients with sepsis (risk ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-1.23; 9 trials; n = 1786) vs. without sepsis (risk ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-1.05; 8 trials; n = 1955), treated exclusively with continuous renal replacement therapy (risk ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-1.06; 7 trials; n = 2462) vs. other modalities alone or in combination (risk ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.70 -1.21; 5 trials; n = 1492), and in trials with low (risk ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-1.09; 6 trials; n = 3475) vs. higher (risk ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-1.09; 6 trials; n = 479) risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

High-dose renal replacement therapy in acute kidney injury does not improve patient survival or recovery of renal function overall or in important patient subgroups, including those with sepsis.

Comparison between early and delayed acute kidney injury secondary to infectious disease in the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

Results from a number of studies suggest that the delayed manifestation of acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with higher in-hospital mortality, while other studies were unable to demonstrate any difference among early and delayed AKI in terms of in-hospital mortality.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in outcome among patients with AKI upon admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) and those who develop AKI post-admission.

METHODS

We studied patients with AKI secondary to infectious diseases admitted to the ICU. We retrospectively compared data on patients admitted with AKI (early AKI) with data on those who developed AKI 24 h after admission (delayed AKI).

RESULTS

Acute kidney injury occurred in 147 of 829 (17.7%) patients admitted to the ICU. Of these, 96 (65%) had early AKI and 51 (35%) had delayed AKI. Renal failure was classified according to RIFLE criteria-an AKI-specific severity score that is used to place patients into one of five categories: risk, injury, failure, loss or end-stage renal disease. Based on these criteria, 6% of the early AKI and 4% of the delayed AKI patients were in risk category, 18% of the early AKI and 27% of the delayed AKI patients were in the injury category and 76% of the early AKI and 69% of the delayed AKI patients were in the failure category. We found no significant association between RIFLE and death. On admission, patients with early AKI had statistically significantly higher serum urea and creatinine levels than delayed AKI patients (P<0.0001). Arterial bicarbonate was lower in early AKI (P=0.02). Sepsis, hypotension and use of mechanical ventilation were more frequent in delayed AKI (P<0.05). The APACHE II score was higher in early AKI (P=0.05) patients. In total, 98 (66.7%) patients died, with a tendency towards higher mortality in patients with delayed AKI (61.5 vs. 76.5%, P=0.07).

CONCLUSION

Mortality among patients with infectious diseases-associated AKI admitted to the ICU is high, with a trend to be higher in those who developed delayed AKI.

Blood purification for hypercytokinemia

Blood purification has been steadily improved in the field of critical care, supported by advances in related biomedical technologies as well as efforts to develop better operating procedures. As it has become clear that hypercytokinemia plays a key role in the pathophysiology of critical pathological conditions, use of various blood purification techniques to control hypercytokinemia has been investigated. Answers to questions concerning the optimal cytokine-removing device (dialyzer/hemofilter/adsorber) as well as operating procedures and conditions of such devices in particular clinical conditions have been obtained in the course of such investigations. The recent success in real-time monitoring of cytokine levels in clinical practice to assess the extent of cytokine network activation may improve the precision and efficacy of blood purification in the treatment of hypercytokinemia. In addition, the recently documented effects of genetic factors on hypercytokinemia suggest that the introduction of tailor-made medicine considering the differences in genetic background among individual patients may improve the efficacy of blood purification as a countermeasure to hypercytokinemia.

Risk factors for death among critically ill patients with acute renal failure

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE

Acute renal failure is a common medical problem, with a high mortality rate. The aim of this work was to investigate the risk factors for death among critically ill patients with acute renal failure.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Retrospective cohort at the intensive care unit of Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio, Fortaleza.

METHODS

Survivors and non-survivors were compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to establish risk factors for death.

RESULTS

Acute renal failure occurred in 128 patients (33.5%), with mean age of 49 +/- 20 years (79 males; 62%). Death occurred in 80 (62.5%). The risk factors most frequently associated with death were hypotension, sepsis, nephrotoxic drug use, respiratory insufficiency, liver failure, hypovolemia, septic shock, multiple organ dysfunction, need for vasoactive drugs, need for mechanical ventilation, oliguria, hypoalbuminemia, metabolic acidosis and anemia. There were negative correlations between death and: prothrombin time, hematocrit, hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, arterial pH, arterial bicarbonate and urine volume. From multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors for death were: need for mechanical ventilation (OR = 3.15; p = 0.03), hypotension (OR = 3.48; p = 0.02), liver failure (OR = 5.37; p = 0.02), low arterial bicarbonate (OR = 0.85; p = 0.005), oliguria (OR = 3.36; p = 0.009), vasopressor use (OR = 4.83; p = 0.004) and sepsis (OR = 6.14; p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

There are significant risk factors for death among patients with acute renal failure in intensive care units, which need to be identified at an early stage for early treatment.