Advanced Renal Technologies - Citrasate and DRYalysate citrate dialysate

Patient & Family Information: Talk to Your Doctor

As a dialysis patient, you could benefit from Citrasate®, an improvement in the formulas used for decades in dialysis treatments. All dialysis patients are candidates for this new therapy. But if you are a patient with specific problems (your dialyzer clots, you have antibodies to the anticoagulant heparin, or you have a risk of bleeding and cannot use heparin), Citrasate® could be even more beneficial to you.

As you may know, each patient responds differently to dialysis treatment. The reasons for this are complex, and more is learned all the time about how dialysis treatments can be made better. Recently, Advanced Renal Technologies (ART) introduced a new chemical formulation of dialysate that can improve dialysis treatment. Citrasate® is the first new dialysate formulation in decades, and DRYalysate® is the dry version of this new formulation. The new formulation in Citrasate® contains the natural substance citric acid in place of acetic acid, which all other dialysates have.

Product Benefits

The following benefits have been observed in clinical testing:

Bicarbonate levels were raised, and urea and creatinine levels were lowered. These are positive results, providing a superior "dose" of dialysis.
Patients with unusual dialysis problems, such as excessive clotting in their dialyzers, had less clotting. When the dialyzer remains clear longer, more toxins are exchanged during the dialysis treatment, which means the treatment is more successful.
Patients with heparin antibodies, who clot despite using heparin, were able to dialyze with the Citrasate® formula without using heparin and had a lower incidence of dialyzer clotting.

In general, using citric acid results in less clotting and better treatment. Your dialysis sessions should have fewer problems because your dialyzer shouldn't clot so often.

Using Citrasate® Products

There are no side effects with Citrasate®. It's not a drug; it's just a better cleaning agent for your blood as it passes through the permeable membranes of your dialyzer. In fact, it is possible that using Citrasate® will lessen the side effects of dialysis: You get a better "dose" of dialysis, and your blood is cleaner after you leave your session.
This dialysate is used in exactly the same way as the standard dialysate that is now used in your treatments. Clinic staff members don't have to learn how to use this new product; it is used just like the current dialysates. And the results you experience will likely be better than with your usual dialysate.
Your clinic does not need to buy new dialysis equipment; Citrasate® can be used in the systems that are already in place. Citrasate® also saves clinic staff members time and stress by helping avoid problems associated with clotting and bleeding.

While Citrasate® and DRYalysate® can dramatically improve dialysis for patients who have problems with the dialysis procedure, all dialysis patients can benefit from them.

Invite your doctor to visit www.citrasate.com

Or call Advanced Renal Technologies at (425) 453-8777. Technical staff members are on hand to answer questions. Starter kits are available.

You may want to print this page to give to your doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Citrasate® and DRYalysate® are the only available patented formulations of citrate dialysate.

Q: Is the use of citric acid dialysate (citrate dialysate) safe?
A: Yes. It has been used for thousands of dialysis treatments without any problems. Results of patient tests with ART's citrate dialysate were reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and was cleared for use in 1999.

Q: How does citrate dialysate work?
A: It contains a small quantity of citric acid that functions as a mild anticoagulant. This improves dialyzer function in most cases, not only for those patients who have poor dialysis because they "clot" their dialyzers, but also for regular dialysis in "problem-free" dialysis treatments.

Q: What is the difference between citrate dialysate and regular dialysate?
A: All dialysate solutions must contain a chemical that controls the dialysate pH, an "acidifying agent." ART has elected to use citric acid instead of the more commonly used acetic acid because citric acid provides better treatment in most cases.

Q: Are there any unusual risks involved in using citric acid?
A: In the amounts used, citric acid has been shown to be safe. It is normally found in the body at only slightly lower levels than those used in the dialysate prepared from ART's chemical formulations.