Regional Citrate Anticoagulation in Hemodialysis: An Observational Study of Safety, Efficacy, and Effect on Calcium Balance during Routine Care

Abstract

Regional citrate dialysis can be performed safely and effectively using a sparse plasma calcium sampling protocol. The calcium balance induced by this protocol is not different to that seen in standard heparin-anticoagulated dialysis, but in the absence of prospective studies, it is unknown whether this is optimal for patient care.