title: Terlipressin and albumin in patients with cirrhosis and type I hepatorenal syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Systemic Diseases, Liver Operative Unit, Catania University Polyclinic, Catania 95123, Italy. sergio.neri4@tin.it
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pulvirenti
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malaguarnera
authors.forename: Bruno M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Cosimo
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertino
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ignaccolo
authors.forename: Sebasiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siringo
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castellino
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D008236:Lypressin; D000077585:Terlipressin