title: Initial serum sodium concentration determines the decrease in sodium level after terlipressin administration in patients with liver cirrhosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Terlipressin, as a prodrug of vasopressin, has agonistic effects on the V1 receptor and partial agonistic effects on renal vasopressin V2 receptors. However, its effects on serum sodium concentration are controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study retrospectively investigated 127 patients with liver cirrhosis to examine the incidence and risk factors for the decrease in serum sodium level following terlipressin administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Terlipressin was prescribed for bleeding control (99) and management of hepatorenal syndrome (28). Serum sodium level decreased from 134.0 ± 6.5 mmol/L to 130.4 ± 6.2 mmol/L during or after terlipressin treatment (P < 0.001) in all patients. In 45 patients (35.4%), the serum sodium concentration decreased by > 5 mmol/L, in 29 patients (22.8%); by 5-10 mmol/L; and in 16 patients (12.6%), by > 10 mmol/L. Five patients in the latter group showed neurological manifestations. In the univariate analysis, several factors including age, purpose of use, serum creatinine, and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, representing liver function, were significantly associated with the decrease in serum sodium after terlipressin administration. However, a multivariate analysis revealed that only initial sodium level was the most powerful predictor of terlipressin-induced reduction in serum sodium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An acute reduction in serum sodium concentration was not uncommon during terlipressin treatment, and the baseline serum sodium level was closely related to the reduction in serum sodium concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine Gyeongsang University, 816 Beongil 15 Jinju-daero, Jinju, Gyeongnam South Korea.
authors.forename: Yeo-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Eun Jin
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Kyungo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Dae-Hong
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Ha Nee
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Hyun Seop
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Se-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Dong Jun
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Hyponatremia; Liver cirrhosis; Terlipressin