Griffin BR, et al. - Because thrombocytopenia is common in patients with severe acute kidney injury who are critically ill and may be aggravated by renal replacement therapy, researchers assessed the impact of renal replacement therapy on subsequent platelet values, the prognostic significance of a decrease in platelets, and potential risk factors for platelet decreases. The study sample consisted of 1,124 subjects with severe acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy. According to this post hoc analysis of the Acute Renal Failure Trial Network Study, baseline thrombocytopenia and platelet decline were related to increased mortality following initiation of renal replacement therapy, and baseline thrombocytopenia was linked to decreased renal recovery rates. Compared with hemodialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy did not reduce platelets.