[Ultrafiltration versus intravenous diuretics in decompensated heart failure: a meta-analysis of randomized...

To explore whether ultrafiltration is superior to intravenous diuretics in ameliorating fluid overload and preserving renal functions in decompensated heart failure patients.

By searching in Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Springer, WanFang, CQVIP, CNKI and CBM database as well as related Chinese journals, qualified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included for meta-analysis by Revman 5.0 and STATA 10.0.

Six RCTs were included with 241 patients in ultrafiltration group and 240 patients in intravenous diuretics group. Pooled analyses demonstrated ultrafiltration was superior to intravenous diuretics in the aspects of weight loss (WMD = 1.44 kg, 95%CI:0.33-2.55 kg, P = 0.01) and fluid removal (WMD = 1.23 kg, 95%CI:0.63-1.82 kg, P < 0.01) while no significant difference was observed in serum creatinine level (WMD = -5.70 µmol/L, 95%CI: -35.02-23.61 µmol/L, P = 0.70), serum creatinine change from baseline (WMD = 4.74 µmol/L, 95%CI:-13.72-23.20 µmol/L, P = 0.61), mortality (RR = 1.09, 95%CI: 0.69-1.70, P = 0.72) or rehospitalization (RR = 0.92, 95%CI:0.53-1.61, P = 0.78).

For decompensated heart failure patients, ultrafiltration is superior to intravenous diuretics in mitigating fluid overload. No intergroup difference was observed in renal function preservation, mortality or rehospitalization.