Ultrafiltration in acute heart failure: Current knowledge and fields for further research

Abstract

Heart failure is one of the leading causes of death in developed countries and remains a significant burden to the healthcare system. Fluid overload is a process responsible for the majority of the heart failure symptoms. Pharmacotherapy is a first-line treatment for this condition; however, due to the phenomenon of diuretic resistance, drug therapy can frequently be insufficient. Ultrafiltration is a promising but still understudied procedure that effectively targets the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of congestion. The increased availability of simplified ultrafiltration devices, especially in intensive care units, prompted us to perform a current literature review on this treatment. In the present paper, we provide a concise review of the published trials on ultrafiltration, with a brief commentary on their conclusions and shortcomings. We also discuss the practical aspects of this treatment that remain unclear, such as the accurate selection of patients, choosing a suitable protocol for ultrafiltration, the proper time of initiation, monitoring of the therapy, and its desirable effects on renal function with further restoration of diuretic agent responsiveness.