Renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury.

The treatment of established acute kidney injury (AKI) is largely supportive in nature. Renal replacement therapy remains the cornerstone of management for the minority of patients who have severe AKI. Optimization of renal replacement therapy may modulate the high mortality associated with AKI. Recent trials indicated that continuous renal replacement therapy does not confer a survival advantage as compared to intermittent hemodialysis. Furthermore, there is no evidence to support a more intensive strategy of renal replacement therapy in the setting of AKI. There is comparatively limited data regarding the ideal timing of renal replacement therapy initiation and the preferred mode of solute clearance. Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.