[Citrate: an additional resource for anticoagulation in continuous replacement therapy]

Anticoagulation of the extracorporeal circuit, necessary for the correct management of renal replacement treatment in acute renal failure, is essential. There is a high risk of bleeding secondary to the presence of complex platelet and coagulation abnormalities, the effect of uremia, recent surgery or a state of sepsis. This requires careful evaluation of the type of anticoagulation to be used to prevent blood clotting of the circuit, maintain filter efficiency, and minimize the risk of bleeding. In critically ill patients with no risk of bleeding, heparin is still the anticoagulant treatment of choice. With an increased bleeding risk or in particular situations such as HIT-II, dermatan sulfate can be safely used as an alternative to dilution driven. A valid additional resource in case of a high risk of bleeding is citrate, the use of which - thanks to its effectiveness and ease of use - is becoming more widespread. Citrate is able to provide regional anticoagulation without any interference with the patient. This makes it increasingly feasible to continue replacement therapy, allowing a sufficient number of hours to obtain the correct dialysis dose in critically ill patients with acute renal failure.