Polyacrylonitrile (AN69) filter membranes adsorb cytokines during continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH). Although high-volume hemofiltration has shown limited benefits, the dose-effect relationship in CVVH with AN69 membranes on severe sepsis remains undetermined. This multi-centered study enrolled 266 patients with sepsis-induced multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) who underwent CVVH with AN69 membranes between 2014 and 2015. We investigated the effects of ultrafiltration rates (UFR) on mortality. We categorized patients that were treated with UFR of 20-25 mL/kg/h as the standard UFR group (n = 124) and those that were treated with a UFR >25 mL/kg/h as the high UFR group (n = 142). Among the patient characteristics, the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, hemoglobin levels <10 g/dL, and a sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score ≥15 at CVVH initiation were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. In the subgroup analysis, for patients with SOFA scores that were ≥15, the 90-day survival rate was higher in the high UFR group than in the standard UFR group (HR 0.54, CI: 0.36-0.79, p = 0.005). We concluded that in patients with sepsis-induced MODS, SOFA scores ≥15 predicted a poor rate of survival. High UFR setting >25 mL/kg/h in CVVH with AN69 membranes may reduce the mortality risk in these high-risk patients.
Keywords: blood purification; critical medicine; intensive care unit; multiple organ failure.