Renal replacement therapy in AKI

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) has become a global problem in the developing countries as well as the developed countries in recent years. AKI has been rapidly increasing during the past few decades. However, the incidence of AKI varies in previous studies depending on the definitions of AKI and patients’ demographics. AKI, particularly among patients with severe AKI requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT), is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Moreover, the survivors of AKI are at increased risk of progression to chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease even if AKI is recovered completely. Despite significant advances in RRT technology, the mortality of AKI requiring RRT is over 50% in the intensive care unit (ICU). Although RRT is a mainstay strategy for critically ill patients with AKI, there still remains several controversial issues with respect to RRT for AKI.