Background

The management of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) demands a multidisciplinary approach. In spite of previous efforts at harmonization, the terminology used to describe the different aspects and modalities of RRT is often confusing. A consensus conference on RRT terminology was organized to develop common definitions for the components, techniques, and operation of the machines and platforms used for acute extracorporeal therapies.

In this article, we report the conclusions of the consensus group on the basic principles underlying RRT technologies and the application of those principles to patient care, using “machine-centric” rather than “patient-centric” terminology. We provide a detailed description of the performance characteristics of membranes and filters, solute and fluid transport mechanisms across membranes, flow rate parameters, and methods of treatment evaluation, focusing on the continuous RRT (CRRT) used in the treatment of critically ill patients.

Methodology

A conference was organized in Vicenza, Italy, to gather experts in CRRT and members of CRRT manufacturing companies to establish consensus on technical terminology and definitions relevant to basic principles of CRRT and related technology [1]. The conference provided the background for a modified Delphi consensus methodology as previously utilized for the Acute Disease Quality initiative consensus sessions [2]. Prior to the conference, participants screened the literature of the last 25 years and previous taxonomy efforts [3–5]. Keywords included “continuous renal replacement therapy”, “dialysis”, “hemofiltration”, “convection”, “diffusion”, “ultrafiltration”, “dose”, “blood purification”, “renal support”, “multiorgan dysfunction”, together with the relative MeSH terms. Abstracts of 707 articles were screened and more than 300 papers were read in full and analyzed. Based on this literature search, a series of definitions and terms were proposed and consensus was achieved from the majority of experts who participated in the conference. Where consensus was lacking, different statements were created after two-thirds of the audience expressed a positive vote. We present the results of this effort of terminology harmonization called NSI (Nomenclature Standardization Initiative).

Characteristics of the membrane and filter

Geometric characteristics

The main one-dimensional geometric characteristics of hollow fiber membranes are length (L), mean inner radius (r− i), wall thickness (t), and number of pores (Np). The membrane surface area depends on the number of fibers (Nf). Using these parameters, multidimensional characteristics [6] can be expressed as listed in Table 1.

Table 1 Multidimensional characteristics of the membranes
Full size table

Performance characteristics

The performance characteristics define the potential applications of each membrane.

Membrane ultrafiltration coefficient and filter ultrafiltration coefficient

The membrane ultrafiltration coefficient (KUF) represents the water permeability of the filter membrane per unit of pressure and surface. It depends on both the dimensions of the membrane and the number of pores and is measured as:

$$ {K}_{UF} = \frac{Q_{UF}}{TMP}\cdot \frac{1}{A} $$

where QUF is the ultrafiltration flow rate, TMP is the transmembrane pressure, and A is the membrane surface area. The unit of measurement is ml/h/mmHg/m2. Treatment parameters that enhance or reduce pore blockage induce changes in the KUF.

The filter ultrafiltration coefficient (DKUF) is defined as the product of the KUF and membrane surface area (A):

$$ D{K}_{UF} = {K}_{UF}\cdot A $$

The unit of measurement is ml/h/mmHg. Membrane manufacturers measure DKUF as the ratio of the QUF per unit of applied TMP.

The KUF is used to define “high-flux” or “low-flux” membranes. Although there is no definitive consensus in the literature about the KUF cut-off value [7], it is generally assumed that a KUF <10 ml/h/mmHg/m2 identifies a low-flux membrane, a KUF of 10–25 ml/h/mmHg/m2 identifies middle-flux membranes, and a KUF >25 ml/h/mmHg/m2 identifies high-flux membranes.

The term high-flux has been generally used to define a membrane with an ultrafiltration coefficient >25 ml/h/mmHg/m2. This mainly describes the hydraulic permeability of the membrane (permeability to water). However, hydraulic permeability does not necessarily correspond to the permeability to solutes, which instead depends on the density of pores, the mean size of pores, and the distribution of pores. For this reason the terms high-flux and highly permeable membrane are not interchangeable.

Mass transfer area coefficient

The mass transfer area coefficient (K0A) represents the overall capacity of the membrane to provide diffusive removal of solutes over the entire filter surface. It is defined as the product of the solute flux per unit of membrane area (K0) and the membrane surface area. The unit of measurement is ml/min.

The K0A value can change during dialysis as a result of changes in membrane permeability or a loss of membrane exchange surface area.

Membrane sieving coefficient/rejection coefficient

The sieving coefficient (SC) is the ratio of a specific solute concentration in the ultrafiltrate (removed only by a convective mechanism), divided by the mean plasma concentration in the filter:

$$ SC=\frac{C_{UF}}{\left({C}_{Pi} + {C}_{Po}\right)/2} $$

where CUF is the solute concentration in the ultrafiltrate, and CPi and CPo the plasma solute concentrations at the inlet and outlet of the filter, respectively. A true calculation would require measurement of the solute concentration in plasma water rather than plasma to avoid interference of proteins. Nevertheless, for practical purposes, plasma concentration is normally accepted.

SC is correctly measurable only in the absence of a gradient for diffusion (no concentration gradient through the membrane). Measurement of the SC varies during treatment because the characteristics of the membrane change. SC is specific for each solute and for every membrane (Fig. 1). The formula is commonly simplified to the ratio between the concentration in the ultrafiltrate and the concentration in pre-filter plasma.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Schematic diagram of sieving coefficient profiles for low-flux (blue), high-flux (red) and high cut-off membranes (green)

Full size image

The rejection coefficient (RC) is defined as:

$$ RC=1-SC $$

Cut-Off

For a specific membrane, the cut-off represents the molecular weight of the smallest solutes retained by the membrane. Taking into account the normal distribution of membrane pore size, the statistical cut-off value is identified as the molecular weight of a solute with a SC of 0.1. For a specific membrane, the retention onset (cut-off 90 % or 0.9) represents the molecular weight of a molecule with a SC of 0.9. For a complete understanding of the performance characteristics of a membrane, the cut-off value and the retention onset both need to be taken into account, allowing evaluation of the profile of the SC curve for each membrane (Fig. 1) [8].

Clinically, the expression “high cut-off membrane” describes membranes with a cut-off value that approximates the molecular weight of albumin (before exposure to blood or plasma).

Mechanisms of solute and fluid transport

Solute transport occurs mainly by two phenomena: convection and diffusion. Fluid transport across semipermeable membranes is driven by ultrafiltration. Adsorption influences removal of hydrophobic (lipid-soluble) compounds by attachment of solute to the membrane. When solute removal rate (mass/time) is normalized by the concentration of blood/plasma entering the filter (mass/volume), the correct term to be used is “solute clearance” which is expressed in ml/min and describes the volume of blood completely purified by the solute in the unit of time.

Ultrafiltration and convection

Ultrafiltration describes the transport of plasma water (solvent, free of cells and colloids) through a semipermeable membrane, driven by a pressure gradient between blood and dialysate/ultrafiltrate compartments. It is influenced by the intrinsic properties of the filter, such as the DKUF, and the operating parameters (e.g., TMP) [9]. Quantitatively, ultrafiltration is defined by the ultrafiltration rate (QUF):

$$ {Q}_{UF} = D{K}_{UF} \cdot \kern0.5em TMP $$

The term ultrafiltration requires some specifications depending on the context in which it is utilized. When ultrafiltration is applied to a circuit or a CRRT treatment, specifications should be made using terms such as total ultrafiltration (UF = overall ultrafiltration volume produced during treatment) and net ultrafiltration (UFNET = net ultrafiltrate volume removed from the patient by the machine). In the first case, the overall volume can be completely replaced, partially replaced, or not replaced at all. UFNET is the difference between UF and the volume replaced in the circuit (Table 2).

Table 2 Fluids and flows in continuous renal replacement therapy
Full size table

When techniques are discussed, ultrafiltration may be isolated (no other mechanism is utilized in the treatment and only volume control is achieved), be used as part of hemofiltration (the ultrafiltrate is partially or completely replaced achieving volume and solute control), or combined with diffusion in treatments such as hemodialysis (HD) or hemodiafiltration (HDF). Different membranes are utilized for different techniques.

Convection is the process whereby solutes pass through membrane pores, dragged by fluid movement (ultrafiltration) caused by a hydrostatic and/or osmotic transmembrane pressure gradient.

The convective flux (Jc) of a solute depends on the QUF, the membrane surface area (A), the solute concentration in plasma (CPi) and the solute SC:

$$ {J}_c = \frac{Q_{UF}}{A}\cdotp {C}_{Pi}\cdotp SC $$

Compared to diffusive transport, convective transport permits the removal of higher molecular weight solutes at a higher rate [10].

Transmembrane pressure

In hollow fiber filters, the TMP is the pressure gradient across the membrane. The terms that define this gradient are the hydrostatic pressure in the blood compartment (PB), the hydrostatic pressure in the dialysate/ultrafiltrate compartment (PD) and the blood oncotic pressure (πB). The TMP value varies with length (l) along the whole filter length (L):

$$ TMP(l)={P}_B(l)-{P}_D(l)-{\pi}_B(l) $$

Generally, TMP is expressed using a simplified formula:

$$ TM{P}^{*}=\frac{P_{Bi}+{P}_{Bo}}{2}-\frac{P_{Di}+{P}_{Do}}{2}-\frac{\pi_{Bi}+{\pi}_{Bo}}{2} $$

where PBi is the blood inlet pressure, PBo the blood outlet pressure, PDi the dialysate/ultrafiltrate inlet pressure, PDo the dialysate/ultrafiltrate outlet pressure, πBi the oncotic pressure of the inlet blood, and πBo the oncotic pressure of the outlet blood. It must be stressed that the TMP* is a positive, averaged value along the length of filter, and does not reflect the true local pressure profile in the filter. In other words, a positive TMP* does not imply a positive TMP (l) at each point in the filter.

Furthermore, CRRT machines do not usually directly measure the PDi or the oncotic pressure, so the TMP is estimated using an even simpler formula:

$$ TM{P}^{*}=\frac{P_{PRE}+{P}_{OUT}}{2}-{P}_{EFF} $$

where PPRE is the pre-filter pressure, POUT the post-filter pressure, and PEFF the pressure measured in the effluent line (all three measured by the machine). In the most common configuration, as blood flows down the filter, plasma water is removed and eliminated with the spent dialysate (if present), which flows in a counter-current direction. This ultrafiltration, called direct (or internal) filtration, identifies the one-directional movement of plasma water from the blood side to the dialysate/ultrafiltrate compartment of the filter due to a local positive TMP(l):

$$ {P}_B(l)>{P}_D(l)+{\pi}_B(l) $$

At a critical point on the filter, where PB (l) = PD (l) + πB (l), equilibrium is achieved. After this point, the TMP (l) may become negative (even if TMP* is positive) allowing dialysate fluid to flow back into the blood compartment, resulting in so-called back filtration [11]. Back filtration describes the movement of fluid from the dialysate compartment to the blood compartment.

Diffusion

Diffusion is a process whereby molecules move randomly across a semipermeable membrane. Solute movement occurs from a more concentrated to a less concentrated area, until an equilibrium is reached between the two compartments. The concentration gradient (C1 – C2 = dc) is the driving force. The unidirectional solute diffusive flux (Jd) through a semipermeable membrane follows Fick’s law of diffusion, being directly proportional to the diffusion coefficient (D) of the solute and inversely proportional to the distance between the compartments (dx) [10]:

$$ {J}_d\kern0.5em = - D\kern0.5em \left(\frac{dc}{dx}\right) $$

The diffusivity coefficient D can be approximated using the Stokes-Einstein equation:

$$ D=\frac{k_BT}{6\pi \mu R} $$

where kB is the Boltzmann constant, T the absolute temperature, μ the viscosity of the medium, and R the effective radius of the molecules. Assuming that most molecules are globular and their effective radius is proportional to the cube root of their molecular weight, D is higher for smaller molecular weight solutes [12].

Adsorption

Adsorption is an extracorporeal process in which molecules dissolved in plasma or blood (in particular peptides and proteins) bind to the membrane structure or to other adsorbing substances such as charcoal, resins, or gels. The characteristics that influence molecule-membrane interaction are typical for each molecule (i.e., dimension, charge, and structure) and for each particular membrane (i.e., porosity, composition, hydrophobicity, surface potential). Adsorption cartridges should be evaluated in terms of their device adsorption capability (DAC) and their selectivity. DAC represents the total quantity of a specific molecule that the device is able to adsorb, and should be of the same order of magnitude as the blood concentration of that molecule multiplied by the blood volume. Selectivity is a safety parameter: it defines what the device does not adsorb.

Modalities of extracorporeal RRT

Hemodialysis

The main mechanism of solute removal in hemodialysis is diffusion, which is chiefly effective in the removal of small solutes. Hemodialysis involves the use of a hemodialyzer, where blood and dialysate solution circulate counter-current or co-current. A counter-current configuration is preferred because the average concentration gradient is kept higher along the whole length of the dialyzer. Conversely, a co-current configuration guarantees better stability and control of hydrodynamic conditions, and better air removal during the priming phase [13]. High-flux filters permit achievement of significant convective transport: this modality is called high-flux hemodialysis [14].

Hemofiltration

Hemofiltration is an exclusively ultrafiltration/convection treatment in which high-flux membranes are utilized in the absence of dialysis fluid. Infusion of a sterile solution into the blood circuit reconstitutes the reduced plasma volume and reduces solute concentration. Infusion of a sterile solution (replacement fluid) can replace totally or partially the filtered volume. Replacement fluid can be infused pre-filter (pre-dilution) or post-filter (post-dilution). In terms of solute clearance, post-dilution is more efficient than pre-dilution, but can lead more easily to membrane fouling due to hemoconcentration [9].

Hemodiafiltration

Hemodiafiltration combines hemodialysis and hemofiltration, whereby the mechanisms involved in solute removal are both diffusive and convective. Since this modality utilizes high-flux membranes, adequate amounts of sterile solution must be infused to replace the removed volume (pre-filter or post-filter) [15].

Isolated ultrafiltration

The main goal of ultrafiltration is to remove fluid using semipermeable membranes without volume replacement, thus achieving volume but not solute control in the patient [16].

Plasmapheresis

Membrane plasmapheresis filters the plasma through plasma filters and replaces it with plasma-derived products, such as fresh frozen plasma, albumin, or other fluids. Alternatively, plasma can be extracted gravimetrically from whole blood using a centrifuge pump. Plasmapheresis is used to remove hydrophilic and lipophilic high molecular weight pathogenic substances [17].

Hemoperfusion/plasmaperfusion

In hemoperfusion or plasmaperfusion, blood or plasma circulates through a column containing specific sorbents, with adsorption as the only removal mechanism. Usually combined with other modalities, hemoperfusion and plasmaperfusion are used to remove specific hydrophobic (lipid-soluble) substances, toxins, or poisons [18].

Fluids, volumes and flows

Solute transport during extracorporeal treatments strictly depends on the operating conditions including blood flow rate, dialysate, net ultrafiltration, and replacement flow rates, designed to achieve the desired clearance performance. These typical CRRT parameters (fluids and flows) are listed in Table 2.

Filtration fraction and concentration ratio

The filtration fraction (FF) is defined as the ratio between the ultrafiltration flow rate (QUF) and the plasma flow rate (QP):

$$ FF=\frac{Q_{UF}}{Q_P} $$

Filtration fraction can also be measured by the following equation:

$$ FF = \frac{1- Pro{t}_{IN}}{Pro{t}_{OUT}} $$

where ProtIN is the protein concentration in plasma entering the filter and ProtOUT is the protein concentration in plasma exiting the filter.

A directly measured FF can be expressed as a fraction:

$$ FF = \frac{Q_{UF}}{Q_P}=\frac{Q_{UF}}{Q_B\left(1-HCT\right)+{Q}_R^{PRE}} $$

where QR PRE is the pre-replacement flow rate and QB the blood flow rate.

For practical clinical purposes (as often used in CRRT machines) it is useful to define the concentration ratio (CR), which quantifies the magnitude of hemoconcentration inside the filter:

$$ CR=\frac{Q_{UF}}{Q_B + \kern0.5em {Q}_R^{PRE}}=\frac{Q_R^{POST} + {Q}_{UF}^{NET} + {Q}_R^{PRE}}{Q_B + \kern0.5em {Q}_R^{PRE}} $$

where QR POST is the post-replacement flow rate, QR PRE is the pre-replacement flow rate, and QUF NET the net ultrafiltration flow rate (all of which sum to Q UF ). Clinically, while the filtration fraction should be kept ideally below 30 %, the CR should be kept below 20–25 % [19], depending on initial hematocrit, to reduce hemoconcentration and mitigate protein-membrane interactions.

Treatment evaluation methods: the “dose” of RRT

Although the most appropriate dose has not been established for specific patients, large studies have demonstrated in the general population a direct relationship between dose and survival for both intermittent and CRRT modalities [20–26]. Today, a growing body of evidence suggests the use of precision CRRT, which is characterized by the need to pay great attention to the balance between demand (of blood purification) and capacity (of the native kidney). In these circumstances, personalized prescription and monitoring of treatment dose is highly recommended [27–30]. Although treatment adequacy should be considered more appropriately as a composite of different elements rather than an index based solely on urea kinetics, in CRRT a treatment efficiency equal or higher than 25 ml/kg/h is commonly considered adequate. This will approximately result in a daily standardized Kt/V = 1 which describes the efficacy of treatment for a specific patient.

Dose identifies the volume of blood cleared of waste products and toxins by the extracorporeal circuit per unit of time. In practice, it is measured as the rate of removal of a representative solute. Urea is the solute most commonly used to quantify dose [31] because it is an indicator of protein catabolism and is retained in kidney failure [12]. Originally, this solute-based approach was developed to measure the dose of dialysis prescribed to patients with end-stage renal disease. In these patients, application of this approach is relatively simple and correlates well with patient outcomes [20]. However, when using CRRT to treat critically ill patients, other measures of adequacy and dose should also be considered. One potentially easier and more reproducible means of estimating dose is incorporating the measurement of flow rates provided by the dialysis machine [32].

Multiple different definitions and formulas to calculate RRT “dose” have been proposed [33, 34]. In this section, we try to clarify the concept. During RRT, the definition of dose must include: target (patient), target (machine), current, average, projected, current effective delivered doses, and average effective delivered doses. Starting from these definitions, therapies should be identified by their efficiency, intensity, and efficacy.

Target dose (prescribed)

The target dose (prescribed) is the clearance prescribed for a specific patient in his/her specific clinical condition and represents the clearance the prescribing clinician wants to achieve in that patient.

Target machine dose (set)

The target machine dose is the clearance that the prescribing clinician wants to achieve from the machine. It is usually set as a target machine efficiency or by specifying the flow rate settings and RRT modality. The target machine dose can be modified during the treatment to reduce the mismatch between the target dose (prescribed) and the average effective delivered dose (measured).

Current dose (estimated from treatment parameters)

The current dose (estimated from treatment parameters) is the clearance at the present time estimated from the flow rates in the extracorporeal circuit. During downtime, when the machine treatment is stopped, the current dose is zero. Interruptions during the treatment can occur because of machine alarms, circuit clotting, vascular access malfunctions, or interruptions when the patient must leave the intensive care unit (ICU), such as for surgery or radiological investigations.

Average dose (measured/calculated)

The average dose is the clearance calculated for the current dose applied over the total treatment time. The total time of treatment is defined as the sum of the effective time of treatment and downtime. The effective time of treatment is the cumulative time during which the effluent pump is working. The average dose is usually an overestimate of the average effective delivered dose.

Projected dose (calculated/estimated)

The projected dose is the weighted-mean clearance that will theoretically be obtained at the end of the treatment. If the target machine dose is kept constant during treatment, the projected dose and the average dose will align. If the target machine dose is modified, the projected dose will depend on the average dose obtained until that moment and the new set target machine dose. The projected dose is usually an overestimate of the average effective delivered dose.

Current effective delivered dose (measured)

The current effective delivered dose (measured) is the clearance observed at every moment during the treatment. Unlike the current dose (estimated from treatment parameters), it is based on blood concentrations. The current effective delivered dose depends mainly on the specific RRT modality, treatment settings, and other technical and clinical issues that qualitatively and quantitatively affect clearance. The major determinants are differences between the displayed and real blood or effluent flow rates, inadequate vascular access, incorrect priming procedure, loss of surface area (clotting, air), loss of permeability (clotting of the membrane, protein cake deposition on the inner surface of membranes, concentration polarization), high blood viscosity and hematocrit, and excessive FF.

Average effective delivered dose (measured)

The average effective delivered dose (measured) or real dose is the clinically relevant (measured) clearance delivered to the patient. It is calculated on the basis of the weighted-mean of the current effective delivered dose, over the total time of treatment until that specific moment. The average effective delivered dose is the average of the current effective delivered dose during the time of treatment, and not of the current dose, because the latter is plagued by errors during times in which flow may be occurring with no solutes clearance, (e.g., bag changes, recirculation procedures). The largest discrepancies between the target dose and the average effective delivered dose are found in predominantly diffusion-based CRRT (i.e., continuous veno-venous hemodialysis and continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration) [33].

In an ideal treatment, during which downtime and technical and/or clinical hindrances do not influence clearance, the target, target machine, current, average, projected, current effective delivered dose, and average effective delivered doses will be equal.

Efficiency, intensity and efficacy

Identified as a clearance (K), the efficiency represents the volume of blood cleared of a solute over a given period of time. It can be expressed as the ratio of blood volume over time (ml/min, ml/h, l/h, l/24 h, etc.) and is generally normalized to ideal patient weight (ml/kg/h). Efficiency depends on the reference molecules chosen (molecular size), removal mechanisms (diffusion, convection or both), and circuit operational characteristics (i.e., flow rates and type of filter). Efficiency can be used to compare different RRT treatments applied with the same modality using different settings and operational characteristics. Efficiency can be further categorized and defined as target efficiency, target machine efficiency, current efficiency, average efficiency, projected efficiency, current effective delivered efficiency, and average effective delivered efficiency. In Fig. 2, the different categories of efficiency during CRRT are illustrated with examples.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Practical example showing the different trends in efficiency (ml/kg/h, y axis) vs treatment time (h, x axis) during treatment with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Target efficiency (prescribed): “It is the amount of clearance prescribed for the specific patient in his/her specific clinical condition, and represents the amount of clearance that the doctor wants to achieve in that patient. Example: according to literature, the doctor decides that a dose of 35 ml/kg/h is the most adequate for his patient”. Target machine efficiency (set): “It is the amount of clearance that the physician wants to achieve in the machine. It is the only value that can be set in the machine. Example: taking into account the average downtime, the doctor sets the target machine dose to reach the target dose (prescribed). For example, to obtain a target dose (prescribed) of 35 ml/kg/h, the doctor sets flow rates and modalities to achieve a target machine dose of 40 ml/kg/h”. Current dose (estimated from treatment parameters): “It is the clearance at the present time, estimated considering the set flows in the extracorporeal circuit. During downtime, the current dose is zero. Example: based only on the instantaneous flow rates, the machine calculates the current dose at every moment of the treatment. A current dose of zero allows the user to recognize downtime”. Average dose (measured/calculated): “It is the clearance calculated for the current dose applied over the total time of treatment. Example: based on the total time of treatment and the current dose calculated at every moment, the machine displays the average dose. At a particular moment of the treatment, if the average dose equals 35 ml/kg/h (the target dose prescribed), the physician can assume that the patient is undertreated”. Projected dose (calculated/estimated): “It is the weighted-mean clearance that will theoretically be obtained at the end of the treatment. Example: based on the average dose obtained until a specific moment and the set target machine dose, the machine estimates the dose that theoretically will be obtained at the end of treatment session (24 h). At a particular moment during the treatment, if the projected dose is less than 35 ml/kg/h (target prescribed dose), the physician can assume that the patient will be undertreated at the end of the treatment”. Current effective delivered dose (measured): “It is the amount of clearance observed at every moment during treatment time. Unlike the current dose, it is based on blood concentrations. Example: the doctor now calculates actual blood clearance based on concentrations of solute markers. He often finds differences with the current dose (estimated from treatment parameters) because technical issues in the measurement of flow rates limit the accuracy of the estimation”. Average effective delivered dose (measured): “It is the clinically relevant amount of (measured) clearance delivered to the patient. It is calculated on the basis of the weighted-mean of the current effective delivered dose, over the total time of treatment until that specific moment”

Full size image

Intensity can be defined by the product “efficiency × time”. In practice, intensity represents the blood volume cleared of a solute after a certain period of time; it can be expressed as ml or l. When comparing RRT modalities with different duration times, the use of intensity is more appropriate than the use of efficiency. For example, despite its low efficiency, use of CRRT for a long period of time results in increased treatment intensity.

Renal failure patients frequently require more than a single treatment; therefore, frequency of treatment should be considered when assessing dose. Specifically, the product of intensity times frequency (measured as treatment days/week) is useful to obtain information beyond a single treatment. Although intensity allows comparison between different treatments, it does not take into account the volume of the solute pool.

Efficacy measures the removal of a specific solute achieved by a given treatment in a given patient. It can be identified as the ratio of the entire volume cleared during the treatment to the volume of distribution of that solute. In practice, efficacy is a dimensionless number and can be numerically defined as the ratio between intensity and the volume of distribution of a specific solute.

Definitions of efficiency, intensity, and efficacy, together with the related formulas and abbreviations, are given in Table 3.

Table 3 Definitions and formulas for efficiencies, intensities and efficacies
Full size table

Conclusions

Understanding the basic mechanisms underlying the process of RRT is essential to be able to make appropriate treatment choices for individual patients. Although apparently simple, those choices are in reality complex, and specific to each clinical situation.

The aim of this consensus is to standardize the nomenclature used by all parties involved in planning and delivering RRT at any level. We hope that the industry will also adopt this standard terminology in the future.