ABSTRACT
Convective therapies can be a good additional option in extracorporeal renal replacement therapy, but so far the clinical evidence in their favor is rather scarce. In this review the results of the most important studies are discussed, grouped by main outcomes: intradialytic cardiovascular stability, beta2-microglobulin, mortality, calcium-phosphorus metabolism, and possible effect on anemia. In general, the use of convective therapies for reimbursement reasons but without any clear clinical benefit is not justified. The fractional division of convective therapies into various subtypes and the use of different levels of convection among centers make their widespread clinical implementation unlikely in the near future. No firm conclusions can be drawn right now and more controlled clinical trials on convective therapies will be needed to clarify their role in renal replacement therapy.
