Karger Publishers, Blood Purification, 1-3(45), p. 36-43, 2017
DOI: 10.1159/000480224
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<b><i>Aims:</i></b> To study the association between higher versus lower continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) intensity and mortality in critically ill patients with combined acute kidney injury and liver dysfunction. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Post-hoc analysis of patients with liver dysfunction (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment liver score ≥2 or diagnosis of liver failure/transplant) included in the Randomized Evaluation of Normal versus Augmented Level renal replacement therapy (RENAL) trial. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of 444 patients, 210 (47.3%) were randomized to higher intensity (effluent flow 40 mL/kg/h) and 234 (52.7%) to lower intensity (effluent flow 25 mL/kg/h) therapy. Overall, 79 and 86% of prescribed effluent flow was delivered in the higher-intensity and lower-intensity groups, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.001). In total, 113 (54.1%) and 120 (51.3%) patients died in each group. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, we found no independent association between higher CRRT intensity and mortality (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.70-1.24; <i>p</i> = 0.642). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> In RENAL patients with liver dysfunction, higher CRRT intensity was not associated with reduced mortality.