The effects of treatment with octreotide, diuretics, or both on portal hemodynamics in nonazotemic cirrhotic patients with ascites.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of diuretic treatment, octreotide, or both on portal hemodynamics in nonazotemic cirrhotic patients with ascites.


BACKGROUND
Diuretics and octreotide have been associated with a decrease in portal pressure in cirrhotic patients, suggested to be mediated by plasma volume depletion and splanchnic vasoconstriction, respectively. However, liver cirrhosis is characterized by activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis, which increases hepatic vascular resistance and is augmented or suppressed by diuretics or octreotide, respectively.


METHODS
Twenty nonazotemic cirrhotic patients with ascites were treated with furosemide and spironolactone. Of them, 10 (group 1) discontinued diuretic treatment for 7 days. Thereafter for 5 days, each patient received subcutaneous octreotide, 300 microg twice per day; ten of them (group 2) received the octreotide in addition to their usual diuretic treatment. Portal and systemic hemodynamics with Doppler ultrasound and endogenous vasoactive systems were evaluated while the patients received diuretics (both groups), after discontinuation of diuretics (group 1), and after octreotide administration (both groups).


RESULTS
The withdrawal of diuretics did not alter portal hemodynamics, but it impaired systemic hemodynamics and suppressed the renin-aldosterone axis. The addition of octreotide to diuretic treatment but not octreotide alone improved portal and systemic hemodynamics. In both groups the initiation of octreotide administration suppressed the renin-aldosterone axis and plasma glucagon levels.


CONCLUSIONS
In nonazotemic cirrhotic patients with ascites, the combination of diuretics and octreotide improves systemic hemodynamics and inhibits the diuretic-related component of the activated renin-aldosterone axis, which in turn augments the portal hypotensive effect of diuretic-induced plasma volume depletion.
Kalambokis
Georgios
G
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
Economou
Michalis
M
Kosta
Paraskevi
P
Papadimitriou
Konstantinos
K
Tsianos
Epameinondas V
EV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011168:Portal System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D004232:Diuretics; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D013148:Spironolactone; D000450:Aldosterone; D005665:Furosemide; D012083:Renin; D015282:Octreotide