title: Beneficial effect of 8-ornithin vasopressin on renal dysfunction in decompensated cirrhosis.
abstract: In nine patients with decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver and impaired renal function the effect of 8-ornithin vasopressin (ornipressin) on renal function and haemodynamic parameters was studied. Ornipressin was infused at a dose of 6 IU/h over a period of four hours. During ornipressin infusion an improvement of renal function was achieved as indicated by an increase of creatinine clearance (76 (15)%; p less than 0.01), urine volume (108 (29)%; p less than 0.05) and sodium excretion (168 (30)%; p less than 0.05). The hyperdynamic circulation of hepatic failure, as characterised by increased cardiac index and heart rate as well as decreased systemic vascular resistance was reversed to a nearly normal circulatory state during ornipressin infusion. The raised noradrenaline plasma concentration (1.74 (0.31) ng/ml) and plasma renin activity (13.5 (3.9) ng/ml/h) were lowered during ornipressin infusion to 0.87 (0.21) ng/ml and 5.9 (2.1) ng/ml/h, respectively (p less than 0.01). The efficacy of a vasoconstrictor agent in reverting a hyperdynamic state and improving renal function provides evidence for the substantial role of accumulation of vasodilator substances and subsequent activation of sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin-axis in the pathogenesis of renal dysfunction in hepatic failure. Values are expressed as mean (SE).
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Internal Medicine, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hörtnagl
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Druml
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laggner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schneeweisz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kleinberger
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D009951:Ornipressin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014667:Vasopressins; D009951:Ornipressin; D012083:Renin; D009638:Norepinephrine