• Andries J Bakker, E Christiaan Boerma, Halbe Keidel, Peter Kingma, and Peter H J van der Voort.
• Department of Clinical Chemistry, Stichting Klinisch Chemisch Laboratorium, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. a.j.bakker@kcl.znb.nl
• Clin Chem Lab Med. 2006 Jan 1; 44 (8): 962-6.

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to elucidate the most practical and effective laboratory measurement for monitoring citrate in critically ill patients undergoing citrate-anticoagulated continuous venovenous haemofiltration (CVVH).MethodsThis observational study was performed at the mixed medical and surgical intensive care unit of a regional teaching hospital. The study population comprised ten consecutive critically ill patients with acute renal failure and indication for haemofiltration with the use of regional anticoagulation with citrate. Serum samples for the measurement of citrate and total and ionised calcium were taken from the pre- and post-filter compartments and from the arterial circulation of patients during citrate-anticoagulated CVVH.ResultsReceiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that for detecting citrate overdose (defined as a citrate concentration >1.0 mmol/L) the best cut-off limits for total/ionised calcium and ionised calcium were 2.1 and 0.8 mmol/L, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for the cut-off limit of 2.1 for total/ionised calcium were 89% and 100%, and 84% and 100%, respectively, for the cut-off limit of 0.8 mmol/L for ionised calcium.ConclusionsIn patients without liver insufficiency, total/ionised calcium performed slightly better than ionised calcium in detecting elevated citrate concentrations. However, because of the simplicity of its measurement, ionised calcium is preferred. Measurement of citrate is not necessary.

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