Uremic toxins

Abstract

In acute kidney injury (AKI), the specific metabolic conditions induced by renal failure are obscured by many interfering factors (e.g., sepsis, pulmonary dysfunction, and hemodynamic instability). Many low-molecular-weight uremic retention solutes contribute to the uremic syndrome, but also the middle-molecular-weight molecules are an important group of biologically active uremic retention solutes. Some uremic compounds are difficult to remove by standard dialysis strategies. Increasing pore size, adding convection, and/or increasing dialysis time and frequency improve their removal. Optimal toxin removal should be one of the primary aims in the treatment of AKI. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010.