The Acute Renal Failure Trial Network (ATN) Study is a clinical research study that is jointly sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Institutes of Health in order to determine if an increased dose of dialysis will decrease mortality rates in patients with acute renal failure (ARF).

The ATN Study is being conducted using a network of VA and non-VA medical centers across the United States. The study is comparing two strategies for the management of renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients with ARF. Both treatment strategies employ both conventional intermittent hemodialysis in patients whose blood pressure is stable and either sustained low-efficiency dialysis (SLED) or continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in patients who are hemodynamically unstable. In one strategy, intermittent hemodialysis and SLED are provided three-times per week and CRRT is dosed to provide a clearance of approximately 20 mL/kg/hour. In the other treatment arm, intermittent hemodialysis and SLED are provided six-times per week and CRRT is dosed to provide a clearance of approximately 35 mL/kg/hour.

The ATN study began enrolling patients in November 2003 and closed after 44 months on July 2, 2007. The total enrollment was 1124 subjects. Follow-up for the primary study endpoint (60 day all-cause mortality) will finish on August 31, 2007. Please click on the tabs on the side of this page to learn more about the ATN Study.