Terlipressin and albumin in patients with cirrhosis and type I hepatorenal syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a pre-renal-like dysfunction that generally onsets in cirrhotic patients presenting ascites. We investigated the improvement of renal function in subjects with hepatorenal syndrome after terlipressin administration and the survival times after this treatment. Fifty-two patients affected by cirrhosis, with diagnosis of hepatorenal syndrome were treated with intravenous terlipressin plus albumin (group A) or with albumin alone (group B). Liver and renal function, plasma renin activity, and aldosterone plasma levels were monitored.


RESULTS
Patients from group A showed a significant improvement (p < 0.001) of renal function valued by creatinine rate compared with the results obtained in group B. The probability of survival was higher in the group A (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results seem to confirm that the administration of terlipressin plus albumin improves renal function in patients with cirrhosis and type I HRS and that a reversal of hepatorenal syndrome is strongly associated with improved survival.
Neri
Sergio
S
Department of Internal Medicine and Systemic Diseases, Liver Operative Unit, Catania University Polyclinic, Catania 95123, Italy. sergio.neri4@tin.it
Pulvirenti
Davide
D
Malaguarnera
Mariano
M
Cosimo
Bruno M
BM
Bertino
Gaetano
G
Ignaccolo
Luca
L
Siringo
Sebasiano
S
Castellino
Pietro
P
D000418:Albumins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006530:Hepatorenal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008236:Lypressin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077585:Terlipressin; D013997:Time Factors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000418:Albumins; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D008236:Lypressin; D000077585:Terlipressin