Association of Thrombocytopenia and Mortality in Critically Ill Patients on Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

Background: Both acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring dialysis and thrombocytopenia are very common and have been independently associated with mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients. Thrombocytopenia is an independent risk factor for AKI and also a marker of disease severity. There is a paucity of literature on the prevalence, incidence, and outcome of thrombocytopenia in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). We aimed at identifying the impact of thrombocytopenia on patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) with AKI requiring CRRT. Methods: We retrospectively studied consecutive adult patients admitted to the ICU from December 9, 2006 through December 31, 2009, with follow-up for 12 months who received CRRT. Thrombocytopenia was defined as platelet counts of