Table 2. Absolute and Relative Indications for Initiating RRT in Patients With AKI .

AKI = Acute kidney injury; CKD = chronic kidney disease; RRT = renal replacement therapy.

The table is reproduced from [208]

Absolute indications	Refractory hyperkalemia (K+ > 6.5 mEq/L, rapidly increasing, or linked with cardiac toxicity)
	Refractory metabolic acidosis (pH ≤7.2 despite normal or low arterial pCO2)
	Signs and symptoms of uremia or its complications (bleeding, pericarditis, encephalopathy)
	Refractory pulmonary edema due to fluid overload unresponsive to diuretic therapy
	Toxicity or overdose of easily dialyzable medications or drugs
Relative indications	Limited physiological reserve to tolerate the consequences of AKI
	Severity of the underlying disease
	Advanced nonrenal organ dysfunction worsened or exacerbated by excessive fluid accumulation (i.e., impaired respiratory function)
	Need for large volume fluid administration (i.e., nutritional support, medications, or blood products)
	Concomitant accumulation of poisons or toxic drugs that can be removed by RRT (e.g., salicylates, ethylene glycol, methanol, metformin)
	Anticipating worsening electrolyte problems with AKI (tumor lysis syndrome, rhabdomyolysis)