Effect of regional citrate anticoagulation on thrombogenicity and biocompatibility during CVVHDF.

This study was designed to assess the principal markers of thrombogenicity and biocompatibility during continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) using regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA). In a prospective study, 11 procedures with a polysulfone membrane were performed in nine critically ill patients with acute renal failure and impaired hemostasis. Blood samples were taken before and during CVVHDF at diafilter outlet—before calcium-induced reversal of the effect of citrate—at 15, 60, 360, and 1440 minutes. In four patients, 10 CVVHDF sessions were performed with systemic heparin anticoagulation (HA) using a polyacrylonitrile membrane. During RCA, blood thrombocyte count, plasma thrombin-antithrombin III complexes, beta-thromboglobulin, and von Willebrand factor levels did not differ significantly from baseline. Plasma D dimer levels rose significantly at 360 minutes; however, the difference between diafilter inlet and outlet levels was nonsignificant. There was a significant increase in plasma C...