ABSTRACT

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has recently become an important treatment modality in patients with acute renal failure in intensive care units. CRRT is also administered in non-renal patients with conditions of undetermined causes. While removal of inflammatory cytokines is aimed in diseases such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome, the therapy is used to remove endogenous toxic solutes in conditions such as congenital metabolic disorders, crush syndrome, lactic acidosis, and tumor lysis syndrome. Although hemodiafiltration is being increasingly used, in clinical trials, its efficacy has not been fully established yet. Excessive dialysis confers no additional benefits to patients. Adequate dialysis and close follow up of patients are thought to be more important than the mode of dialysis.