A Comparison of Dilute Versus Concentrated Heparin for CRRT Anticoagulation

Summary

Heparin is commonly used for anticoagulation of the extracorporeal circuit during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) but the optimal mode of delivery has not yet been validated. Our study will compare dilute heparin to a standard concentration of heparin. The investigators hypothesize that heparin delivered in a dilute solution will augment coating of the filter fibers with anticoagulants, decreasing clotting events and increasing filter life. By improving delivery of heparin to the filter and circuit, where clotting events can disrupt dialysis, less heparin would be required for the extra-corporeal circuit and thus less heparin would be delivered back to the patient with blood return from the machine. By exposing the patient to less heparin it is hypothesized that fewer bleeding events would occur, making the dialysis treatment safer. If more of the filter's fibers remain patent and the filter is functional for a longer period of time, the CRRT would also be more effective.

Timeline

Start

2011-03

Primary completion

2016-04-03

Completion

2016-04-03

Publications

• Background Tolwani AJ, Wille KM. Anticoagulation for continuous renal replacement therapy. Semin Dial. 2009 Mar-Apr;22(2):141-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-139X.2008.00545.x.
• Background van de Wetering J, Westendorp RG, van der Hoeven JG, Stolk B, Feuth JD, Chang PC. Heparin use in continuous renal replacement procedures: the struggle between filter coagulation and patient hemorrhage. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1996 Jan;7(1):145-50. doi: 10.1681/ASN.V71145.
• Tsujimoto H, Tsujimoto Y, Nakata Y, Fujii T, Takahashi S, Akazawa M, Kataoka Y. Pharmacological interventions for preventing clotting of extracorporeal circuits during continuous renal replacement therapy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Dec 14;12(12):CD012467. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012467.pub3.

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Indications