Acute renal replacement therapy: Haemofiltration or haemodiafiltration or haemodialyis?

Abstract

Endogenous toxins accumulate in blood as a result of many biochemical processes. If their concentration exceeds certain levels, they cause illness. Some toxins are volatile (e.g. CO2, ketones) and can be excreted by the lungs through ventilation; others are lipophilic (e.g. bile acids, bilirubin) and can be excreted by the liver via the biliary system; yet others are water soluble and non-volatile and are excreted by the kidneys. When the kidneys suffer acute failure, removal of such water-soluble toxins requires acute artificial renal replacement therapy (RRT).