ClinicalTrials.gg
Status unknownNCT05796661Updated Jun 10, 2024

Patients Undergoing Continuous Venovenous Hemodiafiltration: Effects of Increased Blood Flow

An interventional study of Effects of increased blood flow during regional anticoagulation with 4% trisodium citrate in patients undergoing continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration in Acute Kidney Injury, sponsored by Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. Status unknown at 1 site in Brazil. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-06-10.

Sponsored by Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Jan 2024), so the status shown — last known as Active, not recruiting — may be out of date.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
27
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Acute Kidney Injure (AKI) is a syndrome with high incidence and prevalence in Intensive Care Units (ICU). It is estimated that 50% of the in the sector present AKI at some point and 10 to 15% require renal replacement therapy (RRT). Although studies do not show the superiority of continuous methods, the most severely ill patients are directed to this type of RRT. A disadvantage of continuous therapies is the need for anticoagulation. Critically ill patients have a pro-clotting state (inflammation) and several risk factors for bleeding (coagulopathies, postoperative, large vessel puncture).

On the one hand, ineffective anticoagulation compromises the efficiency of the procedure, shortens the life of the extracorporeal system, consumes resources and increases blood loss due to unexpected and early filter clotting. There is no consensus on what would be the optimal blood flow (Qb) in continuous dialysis, especially when regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) is used. Theoretically, a higher flow rate would prevent stasis in the system and decrease the risk of filter clotting. Studies show conflicting results. Increasing Qb from 150 to 250 mL/min showed that circuit life and the chance of coagulation were similar. On the other hand, blood flow is important for maintaining the filtration fraction (FF), the ratio of ultrafiltrate flow to plasma flow. Ideally, the FF should be kept below 25% to avoid hemoconcentration and coagulation of the filter. Therefore, the higher the convection rate, the higher the blood flow should be to keep the FF in the optimal range. Since the anticoagulation capacity of citrate is dependent on its concentration, around 4 mmol/L of blood, by increasing the blood flow, the citrate infusion is proportionally increased. Theoretically, the higher citrate load offered should be metabolized and, in theory, could cause its overload with the occurrence of metabolic alkalosis and hypernatremia. This situation occurs when its maximum metabolizing capacity is not reached and there is an excess of citrate infusion relative to the buffering requirement. Thus, we intend to evaluate filter useful life, metabolic control, electrolyte profile and acid-base balance in ICU patients undergoing continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF), regional citrate anticoagulation during blood flow augmentation.

Read the detailed description

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical syndrome with a high incidence and prevalence in Intensive care units (ICU). It is estimated that 50% of ICU patients have AKI at some point.

About 10-15% of these individuals require renal replacement therapy (RRT). Although studies have not conclusively shown the superiority of continuous methods, the most severe patients are usually referred for this type of therapy.

The main indications for continuous therapies are hemodynamic instability, cardiogenic shock, severe respiratory insufficiency, risk situations for brain edema, hypercatabolism, need for strict volume control, acute liver disease and major sodium disturbances. One of the main disadvantages of continuous therapies is the necessity of anticoagulation. Critically ill patients have a pro-clotting state (inflammation) and several risk factors for bleeding (coagulopathies, postoperative, large vessel puncture). On the one hand, the lack or ineffective anticoagulation compromises the efficiency of the procedure, shortens the life of the extracorporeal system, consumes resources and increases blood loss due to unexpected and early filter coagulation. On the other hand, excessive use of anticoagulants, especially heparin, is associated with bleeding and increased transfusions.

In this scenario, regional anticoagulation with citrate (RCA) has become the method of choice in the different modalities of continuous dialysis. When compared to heparin, the use of regional citrate anticoagulation is associated with less bleeding and transfusion need and longer life of the extracorporeal system. It also seems to decrease endothelial activation, neutrophil degranulation and activation of the complement system.

The anticoagulate property of citrate is based on its binding to calcium (Ca). Citrate quenches Ca in the extracorporeal system, an essential cofactor in several steps of coagulation. Optimal anticoagulation is achieved when ionic Ca concentration in the extracorporeal circuit is maintained between 0.25 and 0.35 mmol/L. This is usually achieved with a citrate level in the circuit around 4mmol/L of blood. Depending on the modality chosen and other factors, up to 60% of the citrate-Ca complex is eliminated during passage through the filter (molecular weigh of 298 Daltons and partition coefficient of 1.0). The rest is metabolized in the Krebs cycle mainly in the liver, kidneys and skeletal muscles. Each mol of trisodium citrate causes 3 moles of bicarbonate thus correctly, partially or completely, the metabolic acidosis resulting from renal failure. Ca and sodium (Na) are released into the systemic circulation. Trisodium citrate also increases the strong ion difference due to the high sodium concentration in the solution, thus increasing the buffering capacity. In parallel it is necessary the Ca replacement to maintain normal calcemia. The citrate also quenches magnesium, which can lead to a disturbance of this electrolyte.

There is no consensus on what the optimal blood flow (Qb) would be in continuous dialysis, especially when using regional citrate anticoagulation. Theoretically, a higher blood flow would prevent stasis in the system and thus decrease the risk of filter coagulation. Studies show conflicting results. For example, one study evaluated increasing Qb from 150 to 250 mL/min and showed that circuit useful life and the chance of coagulation of the extracorporeal system were similar between the two groups. On the other hand, blood flow is important for maintaining the filtration fraction (FF), the ratio of ultra-filtrated flow to plasma flow (blood flow minus hematocrit). Ideally, the FF should be kept below 25% to avoid hemoconcentration and coagulation of the filter capillary fibers. So the higher the convection rate (ultrafiltration), the higher the blood flow should be to keep the FF in the optimal range.

Since the anticoagulation capacity of citrate is dependent on its concentration, around 4 mmol/L of blood, by increasing blood flow, citrate infusion is proportionally increased. Theoretically, the higher citrate load offered should be metabolized and, in theory, could lead to citrate overload with the occurrence of metabolic alkalosis and hypernatremia. This situation occurs when the maximum capacity of citrate metabolization is not reached and there is an excess of citrate infusion relative to the buffering requirement. The total Ca/systemic ionic Ca ration remains normal, below 2.5. The oversupply of citrate can be easily corrected by decreasing the bicarbonate concentration of the dialysate, increasing the dialysate dose or decreasing the citrate infusion.

Therefore, we intend to evaluate filter useful life, metabolic control, electrolyte profile and acid-base balance in ICU patients with AKI undergoing continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF), regional anticoagulation with citrate during increased blood flow.

Hypothesis: Increasing blood flow during continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration prevents stasis in the system and thus reduces the risk of filter coagulation. Blood flow is important for maintaining the filtration fraction (FF), the ratio of ultrafiltrate flow to plasma flow (blood flow minus hematocrit). Ideally, the FF should be kept below 25% to avoid hemoconcentration and coagulation of the filter capillary fibers. So the higher convection rate (ultrafiltration), the higher the blood flow should be to keep the FF in the optimal range. Therefore, it is expected that higher blood flow (250 mL/min) will reduce the FF and concomitantly prolong the life of the filter.

02

Conditions studied

  • Acute Kidney Injury

Browse trials for

Keywords

  • Continuous renal replacement therapy
  • Blood flow
  • Filtration fraction
03

In context

Acute Kidney Injury

1,641 studies on the registry are indexed under Acute Kidney Injury; 380 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 27 is below the median of 100 across 786 interventional studies indexed under Acute Kidney Injury.

Browse Acute Kidney Injury studies →

Lead sponsor

Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein is the lead sponsor of 147 studies on the registry; 32 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

The inclusion criteria will be:

  • Age greater than 18 years.
  • Weight ≥ 50 Kg.
  • Agreeing to participate in the study (TCLE duly elucidated and signed by the patient or family member/guardian).
  • Admitted to the hospital ICU.
  • Acute Kidney Injury in need of RRT and indication (according to the evaluation of the assistant nephrologist) of continuous therapy.

Exclusion criteria will be:

  • Age \< 18 years.
  • Weight \< 50 Kg.
  • Refusal to participate in the study (absence of informed consent).
  • Patient with chronic kidney disease on dialysis
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
27 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Qb150

    This group will be exposed to continuous venovenous therapy with a blood flow of 150ml/min; already standardized by the institution; for a maximum time of 72 hours or interrupted sooner if the system clots or the filter loses patency. Both groups will have a "wash out" of 6 hours before crossing the arms of the work.

    Other: Effects of increased blood flow during regional anticoagulation with 4% trisodium citrate in patients undergoing continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration

  • Active comparator
    Qb 250

    This group will be exposed to continuous venovenous therapy with a blood flow of 250ml/min; experimental group to evaluate increased blood flow and filter durability; for a maximum time of 72 hours or interrupted sooner if the system clots or the filter loses patency. Both groups will have a "wash out" of 6 hours before crossing the arms of the work.

    Other: Effects of increased blood flow during regional anticoagulation with 4% trisodium citrate in patients undergoing continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration

Interventions

  • OtherEffects of increased blood flow during regional anticoagulation with 4% trisodium citrate in patients undergoing continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration

    Patients will be exposed to continuous venovenous renal therapy with distinct blood flows in 2 periods, to be defined by draw. The control group will have a flow of 150ml/min and the intervention group 250ml/min. Therapy is intended for a period of 72 hours (maximum defined by the manufacturer); with a 6-hour "washout" and, after that, the arm is changed to be exposed to the other blood flow.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Analyze filter/system useful life

    Evaluate the duration of the continuous hemodiafiltration filter according to changes in blood flow

    Time frame: 72 hours per filter

Secondary outcomes

  1. Examine the system pressures

    Assess changes in system pressures during the 2 blood flows (transmembrane pressure, filter pressure and access pressure)

    Time frame: 72 hours per filter

  2. Assess filtration fraction variation

    Assess filtration fraction variation during the 2 blood flows

    Time frame: 72 hours per filter

  3. Electrolytic control - Potassium

    Assess changes in potassium (changes from baseline)

    Time frame: 72 hours per filter (dosage every 12 hours according to protocol)

  4. Electrolytic control - Sodium

    Assess changes in sodium (changes from baseline)

    Time frame: 72 hours per filter (dosage every 12 hours according to protocol)

  5. Acid-base balance - blood pH

    Assess changes in blood pH during the 2 blood flows (changes from baseline)

    Time frame: 72 hours per filter (venous blood gas analysis every 12 hours)

  6. Acid-base balance - sodium bicarbonate

    Assess changes in sodium bicarbonate during the 2 blood flows (changes from baseline)

    Time frame: 72 hours per filter (venous blood gas analysis every 12 hours)

  7. Acid-base balance - base excess

    Assess changes in base excess during the 2 blood flows (changes from baseline)

    Time frame: 72 hours per filter (venous blood gas analysis every 12 hours)

  8. Mortality of the cohort

    Assess the overall mortality of the cohort in 30, 60 and 90 days

    Time frame: 30, 60 and 90 days

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Hospital Israelite Albert Einstein
    São Paulo, Brazil
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Kellum JA, Romagnani P, Ashuntantang G, Ronco C, Zarbock A, Anders HJ. Acute kidney injury. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2021 Jul 15;7(1):52. doi: 10.1038/s41572-021-00284-z. PubMed 34267223 ↗
  • Fuhrman DY, Kellum JA. Acute Kidney Injury in the Intensive Care Unit: Advances in the Identification, Classification, and Treatment of a Multifactorial Syndrome. Crit Care Clin. 2021 Apr;37(2):xiii-xv. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2021.01.001. Epub 2021 Feb 13. No abstract available. PubMed 33752867 ↗
  • Bellomo R, Baldwin I, Ronco C, Kellum JA. ICU-Based Renal Replacement Therapy. Crit Care Med. 2021 Mar 1;49(3):406-418. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000004831. No abstract available. PubMed 33555775 ↗
  • Khwaja A. KDIGO clinical practice guidelines for acute kidney injury. Nephron Clin Pract. 2012;120(4):c179-84. doi: 10.1159/000339789. Epub 2012 Aug 7. No abstract available. PubMed 22890468 ↗
  • Khadzhynov D, Schelter C, Lieker I, Mika A, Staeck O, Neumayer HH, Peters H, Slowinski T. Incidence and outcome of metabolic disarrangements consistent with citrate accumulation in critically ill patients undergoing continuous venovenous hemodialysis with regional citrate anticoagulation. J Crit Care. 2014 Apr;29(2):265-71. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2013.10.015. Epub 2013 Nov 11. PubMed 24360392 ↗
  • Gattas DJ, Rajbhandari D, Bradford C, Buhr H, Lo S, Bellomo R. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Regional Citrate Versus Regional Heparin Anticoagulation for Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in Critically Ill Adults. Crit Care Med. 2015 Aug;43(8):1622-9. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000001004. PubMed 25853591 ↗
  • Stucker F, Ponte B, Tataw J, Martin PY, Wozniak H, Pugin J, Saudan P. Efficacy and safety of citrate-based anticoagulation compared to heparin in patients with acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy: a randomized controlled trial. Crit Care. 2015 Mar 18;19(1):91. doi: 10.1186/s13054-015-0822-z. PubMed 25881975 ↗
  • Meersch M, Kullmar M, Wempe C, Kindgen-Milles D, Kluge S, Slowinski T, Marx G, Gerss J, Zarbock A; SepNet Critical Care Trials Group. Regional citrate versus systemic heparin anticoagulation for continuous renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (RICH) trial: study protocol for a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2019 Jan 21;9(1):e024411. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024411. PubMed 30670518 ↗
  • Zarbock A, Kullmar M, Kindgen-Milles D, Wempe C, Gerss J, Brandenburger T, Dimski T, Tyczynski B, Jahn M, Mulling N, Mehrlander M, Rosenberger P, Marx G, Simon TP, Jaschinski U, Deetjen P, Putensen C, Schewe JC, Kluge S, Jarczak D, Slowinski T, Bodenstein M, Meybohm P, Wirtz S, Moerer O, Kortgen A, Simon P, Bagshaw SM, Kellum JA, Meersch M; RICH Investigators and the Sepnet Trial Group. Effect of Regional Citrate Anticoagulation vs Systemic Heparin Anticoagulation During Continuous Kidney Replacement Therapy on Dialysis Filter Life Span and Mortality Among Critically Ill Patients With Acute Kidney Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2020 Oct 27;324(16):1629-1639. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.18618. PubMed 33095849 ↗
  • Kramer L, Bauer E, Joukhadar C, Strobl W, Gendo A, Madl C, Gangl A. Citrate pharmacokinetics and metabolism in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic critically ill patients. Crit Care Med. 2003 Oct;31(10):2450-5. doi: 10.1097/01.CCM.0000084871.76568.E6. PubMed 14530750 ↗
  • Bauer E, Derfler K, Joukhadar C, Druml W. Citrate kinetics in patients receiving long-term hemodialysis therapy. Am J Kidney Dis. 2005 Nov;46(5):903-7. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2005.07.041. PubMed 16253731 ↗
  • Yu W, Zhuang F, Ma S, Fan Q, Zhu M, Ding F. Optimized Calcium Supplementation Approach for Regional Citrate Anticoagulation. Nephron. 2019;141(2):119-127. doi: 10.1159/000494693. Epub 2018 Nov 16. PubMed 30448847 ↗
  • Schneider AG, Journois D, Rimmele T. Complications of regional citrate anticoagulation: accumulation or overload? Crit Care. 2017 Nov 19;21(1):281. doi: 10.1186/s13054-017-1880-1. PubMed 29151020 ↗
  • AYRES, M., AYRES Jr, M., AYRES, D. L., SANTOS, A. A. S. Bioestat 5.3 aplicações estatísticas nas áreas das ciências biológicas e médicas. Belém: IDSM, 2007.364p.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Jan 2023 to primary completion in Jan 2023, 0 months.

Of 239 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Acute Kidney Injury, half reached primary completion within 27 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 14 and three quarters within 44. This study's 0 months is below that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 255 studies reached it within 26 months; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 44.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Mar 14, 2023
First posted
Apr 3, 2023
StartActual
Jan 9, 2023
Primary completionActual
Jan 9, 2023
CompletionEst.
Sep 30, 2024
Last update
Jun 10, 2024
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 10, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05796661
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 3, 2023
Start date
Jan 9, 2023
Primary completion
Jan 9, 2023
Completion
Sep 30, 2024 (estimated)
Last update
Jun 10, 2024

Study contacts

Lucas T Avila Neto
principal investigator · Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is status unknown, as verified in Jan 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion