Inpatient citrate-based hemodialysis in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Citrate-based dialysate is an effective method of hemodialysis (HD) anticoagulation in adults. The objective of this study was to evaluate this therapy as an alternative to heparin anticoagulation in pediatric patients in the inpatient setting requiring HD.

METHODS: We performed a prospective, non-randomized study of citrate-based dialysate HD treatments (N = 119) over a 9-month period in 18 pediatric patients (age range 0-18 years) admitted to hospital. Primary outcome measures were thrombosis incidence rates that resulted in circuit loss, catheter loss or early dialysis termination. Secondary outcome measures were hypocalcemia incidence and heparin use. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and comparative statistics.

RESULTS: There was a thrombosis incidence rate of 2.5 % circuit loss, 2.5 % catheter loss and 5.9 % early dialysis termination due to the thrombosis risk. In 64 % of treatments a circuit clot developed but with no circuit loss, and mild asymptomatic hypocalcemia deveoped in 58 % of the monitored HD sessions . No patient required additional heparin during the citrate-based HD treatments, but 11.1 % were subsequently converted to heparin anticoagulation.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a low percentage of thrombotic episodes resulting in catheter or circuit loss. Hypocalcemia was common but remained mild and asymptomatic. Citrate-based dialysate was well tolerated by our patients. We therefore conclude that citrate-based dialysate is a safe alternative to heparin-based hemodialysis anticoagulation.