<qa>  What was the primary end-point of the number, severity and duration of organ failures atprospective, randomized, open, multicentre study was performed between 1997 and 1999 in 16 French intensive care units. Patients were enrolled within 24 hours of development of the first organ failure related to a new septic insult. They were randomized to group 1 HF, who received haemofiltration for a 96 hr period, or group 2 C who were managed conventionally. The primary end-point was the number, severity and duration of organ failures at 14 days, as evaluated by the SOFA score, on an intention-to-treat analysis. Strict guidelines were provided to perform continuous haemofiltration under the same conditions and objectives in all centres. 