Prostacyclin (epoprostenol) as the sole antithrombotic agent in postdilutional hemofiltration.

Prostacyclin (PGI2), the most potent and short-lived antiplatelet agent known today, has been used successfully as an antithrombotic in hemodialysis (HD). However, its vasodilatory effect has been the source of blood pressure instability in acetate HD and has restricted its use to bicarbonate HD. The authors took advantage of the better cardiovascular stability obtained with hemofiltration (HF) to compare the effects of PGI2 versus heparin either with acetate or bicarbonate HF in 4 patients.