Interní Med. 2005; 7(10): 438-439

Thrombocytopenia as a complication of continuos renal replacement therapy

MUDr. Jan Stašek

Interní klinika FN Motol, Metabolická jednotka intenzivní péče, Praha

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) are widely used therapeutic procedures in critically ill patients nowadays, especially in the setting of acute renal failure with hemodynamical unstability. Either systematic or regional anticoagulation is usually one of the presumptions of succesfully performed CRRT. However, patients in the need of this form of organ support are often at risk of bleeding because of coagulation or platelet disorders including thrombocytopenia. Heparin itself as the most widely used anticoagulant can cause serious thrombocytopenia often with thrombosis, which should be considered and treated specifically. CRRT without anticoagulation is an appropriate option in thrombocytopenic patients and is enabled mostly by good vascular access and sufficient velocity of extracorporeal blood circulation.

Keywords: Key words: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), anticoagulation, Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia type II (HIT II).

Published: January 1, 2006  Show citation