The Artificial Kidney Initiation in Kidney Injury 2

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The timing of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the context of severe acute kidney injury (AKI) is one the most debated issues in critical care medicine. The Artificial Kidney Initiation in Kidney Injury (AKIKI) was the first large prospective multicenter randomized trial published on this topic. This study (published in the New England Journal of Medicine, July 2017) showed no significant difference between an early and delayed RRT initiation strategy in term of mortality. Nearly 50% of patients escaped RRT in the delayed strategy and this strategy was associated with less catheter-related infections and faster renal function recovery. Two (serum urea concentration >40 mmol/l and oliguria/anuria for more than 72 hours) of the 5 criteria which mandated RRT in the delayed strategy are still open to debate since they have never been shown to put patient at danger. To go further into our investigation of RRT criteria, the investigators designed a study that would compare the delayed strategy used in AKIKI that can now be considered as standard with another in which RRT is delayed for a longer period in the absence of a life-threatening complication (such as hyperkalemia or severe overload pulmonary edema).

Detailed Description
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The timing of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the context of severe acute kidney injury (AKI) is one the most debated issues in critical care medicine. The Artificial Kidney Initiation in Kidney Injury (AKIKI) was the first large prospective multicenter randomized trial published on this topic. This study conducted by our team (published in the New England Journal of Medicine, July 2017) showed no significant difference between an early and delayed RRT initiation strategy in term of mortality. Nearly 50% of patients escaped RRT in the delayed strategy and this strategy was associated with less catheter-related infections and faster renal function recovery. Two (serum urea concentration >40 mmol/l and oliguria/anuria for more than 72 hours) of the 5 criteria which mandated RRT in the delayed strategy are still open to debate since they have never been shown to put patient at danger. To go further into our investigation of RRT criteria,the investigators designed a study that would compare the delayed strategy used in AKIKI that can now be considered as standard with another in which RRT is delayed for a longer period in the absence of a potentially severe complication (such as hyperkalemia or severe overload pulmonary edema). The AKIKI 2 study will be a prospective, multicenter, open-label, two-arm randomized trial. The study will involve 2 stages (an observational stage and a randomization stage) At any time during these two stages, the occurrence of a potentially severe condition defined below will mandate strong consideration for immediate RRT initiation unless a medical treatment can very rapidly resolve the situation. Criteria that mandate strong consideration for RRT initiation at any time during the 2 stages of the study Serum potassium concentration >6 mmol/l Serum potassium concentration >5.5 mmol/l persisting despite medical treatment Arterial blood pH <7.15 in a context of pure metabolic acidosis (PaCO2 <35 mmHg) or in a context of mixed acidosis with a PaCO2 >50 mmHg without possibility of increasing alveolar ventilation Acute pulmonary edema due to fluid overload despite diuretic therapy leading to severe hypoxemia requiring oxygen flow rate >5 l/min to maintain SpO2>95% (oxygen saturation) or FiO2>50% (inspired oxygen fraction) under invasive or non-invasive mechanical ventilation Observational Stage: All patients receiving (or who have received for the present episode) intravenous catecholamines and/or invasive mechanical ventilation and presenting with AKI classification stage 3 of KDIGO classification [defined by at least one of the following criteria: serum creatinine concentration of more than 4 mg/dl (354 µmol/liter) or greater than 3 times the baseline creatinine level, anuria (urine output of 100 ml/day or less) for more than 12 hours, oliguria (urine output below 0.3 ml/kg/h or below 500 ml/day) for more than 24 hours] and who have no potentially severe condition mandating strong consideration for immediate RRT initiation as described above will be included in an observational study. Clinical and metabolic conditions will be closely monitored and RRT consideration will be mandatory if one or more of these conditions (see above) occurs. Randomization stage: Patients presenting, either immediately after inclusion or during their follow-up in the observational study, one or both of following criteria: a serum urea concentration >40 mmol/l and/or an oliguria/anuria for more than 72 hours even in the absence of an above-mentioned potentially severe condition will be randomly allocated to one of the two study treatment arms. One arm is termed standard strategy (which was the delayed arm of AKIKI 1) and the other a delayed RRT strategy. Standard strategy: RRT is initiated within 12 hours after documentation of serum urea concentration >40 mmol/l and/or an oliguria/anuria for more than 72 hours. The timing of initiation will be recorded and RRT sessions will be performed until criteria for cessation are observed (see below). Delayed strategy: RRT will be initiated only if one or more of above-mentioned potentially severe situations (see Criteria that mandate strong consideration for RRT initiation at any time) occur (identical to those used during the observational study) or if serum urea concentration reaches 50 mmol/L (this level being chosen in order to avoid extreme elevations of serum urea levels as mentioned above). As already explained, the physician in charge will be allowed to try a medical treatment of hyperkalemia, acidosis or pulmonary edema and the decision to start RRT or not will be taken by him, according to his usual practice. The duration of anuria will not constitute a criterion per se for RRT initiation. When required, RRT will be performed with the same modalities and stopped according to the same criteria as in the standard strategy, with special care to avoid dialysis disequilibrium syndrome. The choice of RRT modality (intermittent or continuous technique) will be left at the study site discretion. Several RRT modalities can be used in the same patient, according to attending physician's indication. Duration of and interval between sessions, and device settings as well as modality of anticoagulation are left at the investigator's discretion. However, RRT will be prescribed and monitored according to national guidelines in order to ensure optimal efficacy of RRT. In case of RRT initiation in a context of high serum urea concentration (> 40 mmol/l), prevention of dialysis disequilibrium syndrome will be recommended. The management will be left at clinician's discretion and will include one or several of the following measures : Slow, gentle initial hemodialysis (dialysis time <2 hours and low blood flow rate) Increasing dialysate sodium levels Administration of osmotically active substance by using a high-glucose-concentration dialysate or administering hypertonic glucose in the venous line of the dialyser during dialysis. All study centers have extensive experience in both acute kidney injury management and RRT techniques. Renal replacement therapy discontinuation will be contemplated when spontaneous diuresis >500 ml/24h, and highly recommended if diuresis is >1000 ml/24h without diuretic administration or >2000 ml/24h, in patients receiving diuretics. Renal replacement therapy cessation will be mandatory if diuresis (as defined above) is present and serum creatinine level decreases spontaneously. If improvement of renal function is insufficient to achieve a spontaneous decrease in creatinine level and/or if diuresis becomes lower than 1000 ml/24h without diuretics (or lower than 2000 ml/24h under diuretics), RRT will be resumed. Renal function recovery will be defined according to urine output as mentioned above and RRT cessation without need for resumption in the following 7 days. RRT will be initiated only if one or more of above-mentioned potentially severe situations occur (identical to those used during the observational study. The physician in charge will be allowed to try a medical treatment.) or if serum urea concentration reaches 50 mmol/L (this level being chosen in order to avoid extreme elevations of serum urea levels as mentioned above). Patients will not receive RRT whatever the duration of anuria/oliguria if none of the above-mentioned indications for RRT is present. When required, RRT will be performed with the same modalities and stopped according to the same criteria as in the standard RRT strategy, with special care to avoid dialysis disequilibrium syndrome. The decision to initiate RRT in the delayed strategy arm of the trial will have to be approved by the attending physician(s) involved in patient's care in order to make sure that it corresponds to her/his usual practice.

Official Title
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The Artificial Kidney Initiation in Kidney Injury 2 A Multi-Centre, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Renal Replacement Therapy for Acute Kidney Injury in ICU

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Standard strategy
* Procedure: Delayed strategy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: All of the following criteria must be fulfilled to be included in the observational study (first stage): Adults (>18 years) Hospitalized in a study ICU. Evidence of acute kidney injury compatible with the diagnosis of acute tubular necrosis in a context of ischemic or toxic aggression and who receive (or received for the same episode) invasive mechanical ventilation and/or catecholamine infusion. Acute kidney injury stage 3 of KDIGO classification defined by at least one of the following criteria: serum creatinine concentration of more than 4 mg/dl (354 µmol/liter) or greater than 3 times the baseline creatinine level, anuria (urine output of 100 ml/day or less) for more than 12 hours, oliguria (urine output below 0.3 ml/kg/h or below 500 ml/day) for more than 24 hours. To be randomized (randomization stage), supplemental criteria must be fulfilled. These criteria can appear either immediately after inclusion in the observational stage, or during the follow-up of the patient in the observational stage, in the absence of any non-inclusion criteria (listed below) at the time of randomization: Oliguria/anuria (urine output <0.3 ml/kg/h or <500 ml/day) for more than 72 hours or serum urea concentration comprised between 40 and 50 mmol/l. Affiliation to a social security regime Exclusion Criteria: Severity criteria mandating immediate RRT initiation (Table 1) Serum urea level > 50 mmol/l Severe chronic renal failure (defined by a creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min) Patients with inclusion criteria already present for more than 24 hours (to avoid delayed inclusions) AKI caused by urinary tract obstruction or renal vessel obstruction or tumour lysis syndrome or thrombotic microangiopathy or acute glomerulopathy Poisoning by a dialyzable agent Child C liver cirrhosis Cardiac arrest without awakening Moribund state (patient likely to die within 24h) Patient having already received RRT for the current episode of AKI Renal transplant Treatment limitation (withholding or withdrawal) Previous inclusion in this study Subject deprived of freedom, subject under a legal protective measure Pregnant or breastfeeding woman

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Standard strategy<br>RRT will be initiated within 12 hours after documentation of serum urea concentration >40 mmol/l and/or an oliguria/anuria for more than 72 hours (identical to the delayed strategy in AKIKI). | Procedure: Standard strategy<br>* RRT is initiated within 12 hours after documentation of serum urea concentration >40 mmol/l and/or an oliguria/anuria for more than 72 hours. The timing of its initiation will be recorded and RRT will continue until criteria for cessation are observed. This arm corresponds to the delayed strategy in the published AKIKI trial (NEJM 2016),<br>|
| Experimental: Delayed strategy<br>RRT will be considered only if one potentially severe following situation occurs (noticeable hyperkalemia, or acidosis or pulmonary edema due to fluid overload resulting in severe hypoxemia which do not respond rapidly to medical treatment) or if serum urea concentration reaches 50 mmol/L. | Procedure: Delayed strategy<br>* RRT will be initiated only if one or more of above-mentioned potentially severe situations occur (identical to those used during the observational study) or if serum urea concentration reaches 50 mmol/L (this level being chosen in order to avoid extreme elevations of serum urea levels as mentioned above). The physician in charge will be allowed to try a medical treatment. Patients will not receive RRT whatever the duration of anuria/oliguria if any above-mentioned indication for RRT is not present. When required, RRT will be performed with the same modalities and stopped according to the same criteria as in the no further delayed RRT strategy, with special care to avoid dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (see below). The decision to initiate RRT in the delayed strategy arm of the trial will have to be approved by the attending physician(s) involved in patient's care in order to make sure that it corresponds to her/his usual practice.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| number of RRT-free days | One point will be given for each calendar day during the measurement period (i.e. from the first day of randomization to day 28) that a patient was both alive and free of RRT, assuming the patient survives and remains free of RRT for at least 3 consecutive calendar days after RRT weaning, whatever the vital status at day 28. Zero value will be given for patients with RRT initiated the first day of randomization who died before RRT weaning or who remained under RRT until day 28. With this definition, RRT-free days may concern days without RRT both before RRT initiation (a situation encountered by definition in the  delayed strategy arm) and after RRT weaning (for the two strategies). | Day 28 after randomization | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hydration status (randomization stage) | weight | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Hydration status (randomization stage) | clinical edema scale | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Hydration status (randomization stage) | fluid balance | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Nutritional status (randomization stage) | Amount of calories and protein administered | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Nutritional status (randomization stage) | serum albumin, transthyretin and CRP (C Reactive Protein) concentration changes | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Number of hemorrhages (randomization stage) | hemorrhages requiring red blood cell transfusion or surgical procedure | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Rate of thrombocytopenia (randomization stage) | thrombocytopenia (< 100 000 platelets/mm3) | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Rate of thrombosis of a large venous axis (randomization stage) | thrombosis of a large venous axis diagnosed by Doppler ultrasonography | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Rate of hypophosphatemia (randomization stage) | hypophosphatemia (defined as a serum phosphate concentration<0.6 mmol/l) | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Rate of hyperkalemia (randomization stage) | hyperkalemia (> 6.5 mmol/l) | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Rate of hypernatremia (randomization stage) | Hypernatremia (>150 mmol/l) | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Rate of cardiac rhythm disorders (randomization stage) | ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, torsade de pointe or new episode of atrial fibrillation requiring medical treatment or external electric counter shock | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Rate of pneumothorax (randomization stage) |  | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Rate of hemothorax (randomization stage) |  | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Rate of air embolism (randomization stage) |  | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Number of arterio-venous fistulae (randomization stage) |  | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Rate of pericarditis (randomization stage) |  | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Rate of unexpected cardiac arrest (randomization stage) |  | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Rate of hypothermia (randomization stage) | Hypothermia (<34°C) | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Percentage of patients receiving RRT at least once in the  delayed RRT strategy arm (randomization stage) |  | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Number of RRT sessions (randomization stage) | Number of RRT sessions (until D28 after randomization) (analyzing alive or dead patients separately) | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Time between randomization and RRT initiation (randomization stage) |  | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Time to RRT weaning (randomization stage) |  | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Time to renal function recovery (randomization stage) |  | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Total cost of RRT-related consumables (randomization stage) | catheters, solutions for RRT, membranes, and circuitry | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Number of dialysis catheter-free day (randomization stage) |  | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Rate of catheter-related bloodstream infection (randomization stage) | both dialysis and non-dialysis catheters | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Barthel ADL (activity of daily living) index (randomization stage) | Barthel ADL index at D60 (an index of activities of daily living) | Day 60 after randomization | 
| Percentage of patients with a decisions to withhold or withdraw life support therapies (randomization stage) |  | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Duration of ICU stay (observational and randomization stage) |  | Limited to 60 days after randomization | 
| Duration of hospital stay (observational and randomization stage) |  | Limited to 60 days after randomization | 
| ICU mortality (observational and randomization stage) |  | Limited to 60 days after randomization | 
| Day 28 mortality (observational and randomization stage) |  | Day 28 after inclusion | 
| Day 60 mortality (observational and randomization stage) |  | Day 60 after inclusion | 
| Hospital mortality (observational and randomization stage) |  | Limited to 60 days after randomization | 
| Ventilator free-days (observational and randomization stage) |  | Day 28 after inclusion | 
| RRT indications (observational and randomization stage) | Reason(s) to start RRT during observational stage will be assessed | Day 28 after inclusion | 
| RRT modalities (observational and randomization stage) | CRRT (continuous renal replacement therapy) , IHD (Intermittent Hemodialysis), other | Day 28 after inclusion | 
| Duration of RRT |  | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Time to renal function recovery (observational and randomization stage) | Renal function recovery will be defined by spontaneous diuresis >1000 ml/24h without diuretic administration or >2000 ml/24h, in patients receiving diuretics. | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 
| Time to spontaneous decrease in creatinine | Spontaneous decrease of serum creatinine for 2 consecutive days without need for RRT during the following 7 days | Until ICU discharge or day 28 after randomization | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Acute Kidney Injury, Critical Care, Renal Replacement Therapy