014 ULTRAFILTRATION: A NEW THERAPEUTIC OPTION FOR UK PATIENTS WITH END-STAGE HEART FAILURE

Ultrafiltration (UF) is a recognised treatment option for diuretic resistant heart failure. Ultrafiltration may have potential benefits over diuretic therapy: the rate and volume of fluid removed can be carefully controlled, it does not cause neurohormonal activation and leads to improved sodium loss. However the recently reported CARRESS-HF study suggested that UF offered no benefit to a patient group with worsening renal function; stepped diuretic therapy led to a similar weight loss (∼5.5 kg) and without the short-term deterioration seen in renal function with UF. 1 We began an ultrafiltration programme in September 2010 and now report our early experience. We have treated 22 patients with a mean age of 71 years (range 41–93). 64% of patients had ischaemic heart disease and 50% were in AF. Mean systolic blood pressure prior to undertaking UF was 111 mm Hg (range 89–140), however seven of these patients required additional support with dopamine. Mean weight (±SD) prior to UF was 97±21 kg. Mean UF time was 83±36 h with a mean weight loss of 10±5 kg during UF (p