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Kidney Week

Abstract: FR-PO0189

Neither Prefilter Replacement Fluid nor Dialysate Increases Hemoconcentration in Continuous Kidney Replacement Therapy Circuits

Session Information

  • AKI: Mechanisms - 2
    November 07, 2025 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
    Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: Acute Kidney Injury

  • 102 AKI: Clinical, Outcomes, and Trials

Authors

  • Radford, Gwyndolyn Maluki, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Gopireddy, Naga Sumanth Reddy, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Khawaja, Imran, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Grover, Sahil, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Nizar, Jonathan, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Griffin, Benjamin R., Iowa City VA Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Background

Filter clotting is a major complication of continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) resulting in blood loss, reduced treatment efficacy, and increased cost. Minimization of filtration fraction (FF), an analog for hemoconcentration within a circuit, is often proposed to prolong filter life. However, how best to calculate FF in the setting of pre-filter replacement fluid and dialysate usage is unclear.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled patients on stable CKRT settings for >24 hours and measured four post-filter hematocrit (HCT) values under varying machine settings to determine hemoconcentration within a circuit, as follows: 1) baseline value, with pre-filter and dialysate flow rates set to zero, 2) total effluent delivered as pre-filter replacement fluid, 3) total effluent delivered as dialysate, and 4) total effluent delivered as post-filter replacement fluid. We allowed at least 10 minutes after changing machine settings before drawing the post-filter HCT, and maintained constant blood flow rate, citrate flow rate, and ultrafiltration rates for all four draws. In patients who were not grossly volume overloaded, ultrafiltration was set to 0 for the duration of the experiment.

Results

Five of a planned 20 patients have been enrolled to date. Measured post-filter HCT values are given in Table 1. Average percent change from the baseline value, akin to FF attributable to effluent flow rates, was -1.7% for pre-filter replacement fluid, -3.3% for dialysate, and 26.1% for post-filter replacement fluid. Post-filter replacement fluid percent change nicely approximated calculated FF, whereas measured percent change for pre-filter replacement fluid was significantly lower than the calculated value.

Conclusion

In this prospective study, there was no appreciable hemoconcentration within CKRT circuits due to pre-filter replacement fluid or dialysate. These findings bring into question the accuracy of current FF calculations in settings of predominant pre-filter replacement fluid or dialysate usage.

Table 1. Measured post-filter hematocrit values under varying effluent flow settings.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)