Higher Prevalence of Concurrent Thrombocytopenia in Patients Receiving Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Thrombocytopenia (TCP) is a common finding in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The purpose of this study was to assess the nature of TCP in patients receiving CRRT. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This is a single-center case-control observational study of 795 patients involving over 166,950 h of delivered CRRT at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Concurrent TCP in patients receiving CRRT was defined as a decrease in platelet count of ≥50% any time within 72 h of initiation of CRRT with strict exclusion criteria. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There was a higher incidence of TCP in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) (22.5%) compared to medical ICU (MICU) (13.1%). Using logistic regression, the odds of developing concurrent TCP in patients receiving CRRT was 2.46 (95% CI 1.32–3.57, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05) times higher in the CICU compared with the MICU. There was no difference in the incidence of severe or profound TCP or timing of acute TCP between the CICU and MICU. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Safe delivery of dialysis care in the ICU is paramount and creating awareness of potential risks such as concurrent TCP in patients receiving CRRT should be part of this care.