Healthcare burden and outcomes of hepatorenal syndrome among cirrhosis-related hospitalisations in the US

Safety and efficacy of continuous terlipressin infusion in HRS-AKI in a transplant population

Hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney injury (HRS-AKI) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. While liver transplantation is the definitive treatment, continuous terlipressin infusion for HRS-AKI may provide benefit and, as such, was assessed in a population composed of candidates for liver transplant (LT). Fifty hospitalized LT-eligible patients with HRS-AKI received a single bolus followed by continuous terlipressin infusion. Acute-on-chronic liver failure grade 3, serum creatinine (SCr)>5.0 mg/dL, or Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) ≥35 were exclusions. Fifty hospitalized patients who received midodrine and octreotide or norepinephrine for HRS-AKI served as a historical comparator cohort. Complete response (CR) was defined as a ≥30% decrease in SCr with end-of-treatment (EOT) SCr≤1.5, partial response as a ≥30% decrease in SCr with EOT SCr>1.5, and nonresponse as a <30% decrease in SCr. CR rate was significantly higher in the terlipressin cohort compared to the historical cohort (64% vs. 16%, p <0.001). Survival, while numerically higher in those who received terlipressin, was statistically similar (D30: 94% vs. 82%, p =0.12; D90: 78% vs. 68%, p =0.37). Renal replacement therapy (RRT) was more common among terlipressin NR than CR and PR (70% vs. 3% vs. 13%, p < 0.001). EOT MELD and SCr were significantly lower within terlipressin cohort (MELD: 19 vs. 25, SCr: 1.4 vs. 2.1 mg/dL, p <0.001). Sixteen of 40 terlipressin-treated patients received LT-alone (terlipressin CR in 10/16). One patient on terlipressin had a hypoxic respiratory failure that responded to diuretics; one possibly had drug-related rash. With continuous terlipressin infusion, a CR rate of 64% was observed with a favorable safety profile. Terlipressin use was associated with lower EOT MELD and SCr than the historical midodrine and octreotide/norepinephrine cohort; LT-alone was accomplished in a high proportion of complete terlipressin responders.

Decreased need for RRT in liver transplant recipients after pretransplant treatment of hepatorenal syndrome-type 1 with terlipressin

Hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney injury (HRS-AKI), a serious complication of decompensated cirrhosis, has limited therapeutic options and significant morbidity and mortality. Terlipressin improves renal function in some patients with HRS-1, while liver transplantation (LT) is a curative treatment for advanced chronic liver disease. Renal failure post-LT requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) is a major risk factor for graft and patient survival. A post hoc analysis with a 12-month follow-up of LT recipients from a placebo-controlled trial of terlipressin (CONFIRM; NCT02770716) was conducted to evaluate the need for RRT and overall survival. Patients with HRS-1 were treated with terlipressin plus albumin or placebo plus albumin for up to 14 days. RRT was defined as any type of procedure that replaced kidney function. Outcomes compared between groups included the incidence of HRS-1 reversal, the need for RRT (pretransplant and posttransplant), and overall survival. Of the 300 patients in CONFIRM (terlipressin n = 199; placebo, n = 101), 70 (23%) underwent LT alone (terlipressin, n = 43; placebo, n = 27) and 5 had simultaneous liver-kidney transplant (terlipressin, n = 3, placebo, n = 2). The rate of HRS reversal was significantly higher in the terlipressin group compared with the placebo group (37%, n = 16 vs. 15%, n = 4; p = 0.033). The pretransplant need for RRT was significantly lower among those who received terlipressin ( p = 0.007). The posttransplant need for RRT, at 12 months, was significantly lower among those patients who received terlipressin and were alive at Day 365, compared to placebo ( p = 0.009). Pretransplant treatment with terlipressin plus albumin in patients with HRS-1 decreased the need for RRT pretransplant and posttransplant.

Incidence and outcomes of acute kidney injury including hepatorenal syndrome in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis in the US

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in cirrhosis is common and associated with high morbidity, but the incidence rates of different etiologies of AKI are not well described in the US. We compared incidence rates, practice patterns, and outcomes across etiologies of AKI in cirrhosis.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of 11 hospital networks, including consecutive adult patients admitted with AKI and cirrhosis in 2019. The etiology of AKI was adjudicated based on pre-specified clinical definitions (prerenal/hypovolemic AKI, hepatorenal syndrome [HRS-AKI], acute tubular necrosis [ATN], other).

RESULTS

A total of 2,063 patients were included (median age 62 [IQR 54-69] years, 38.3% female, median MELD-Na score 26 [19-31]). The most common etiology was prerenal AKI (44.3%), followed by ATN (30.4%) and HRS-AKI (12.1%); 6.0% had other AKI, and 7.2% could not be classified. In our cohort, 8.1% of patients received a liver transplant and 36.5% died by 90 days. The lowest rate of death was observed in patients with prerenal AKI (22.2%; p <0.001), while death rates were higher but not significantly different from each other in those with HRS-AKI and ATN (49.0% vs. 52.7%; p = 0.42). Using prerenal AKI as a reference, the adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio (sHR) for 90-day mortality was higher for HRS-AKI (sHR 2.78; 95% CI 2.18-3.54; p <0.001) and ATN (sHR 2.83; 95% CI 2.36-3.41; p <0.001). In adjusted analysis, higher AKI stage and lack of complete response to treatment were associated with an increased risk of 90-day mortality (p <0.001 for all).

CONCLUSION

AKI is a severe complication of cirrhosis. HRS-AKI is uncommon and is associated with similar outcomes to ATN. The etiology of AKI, AKI stage/severity, and non-response to treatment were associated with mortality. Further optimization of vasoconstrictors for HRS-AKI and supportive therapies for ATN are needed.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in cirrhosis carries high morbidity, and management is determined by the etiology of injury. However, a large and well-adjudicated multicenter database from US centers that uses updated AKI definitions is lacking. Our findings demonstrate that acute tubular necrosis and hepatorenal syndrome have similar outcomes (∼50% mortality at 90 days), though hepatorenal syndrome is uncommon (12% of all AKI cases). These findings represent practice patterns at US transplant/tertiary centers and can be used as a baseline, presenting the situation prior to the adoption of terlipressin in the US.

Outcomes among patients with hepatorenal syndrome based on hospital teaching and transplant status: Analysis of 159 845 hospitalizations

Background and Aim

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a life-threatening complication of advanced liver disease. This study aimed to examine the impact of hospital teaching/transplant status and availability of liver transplantation on survival among hospitalized patients with HRS in the United States.

Methods

Patients with HRS were identified from the national inpatient sample 2016-2019. Information was collected regarding patient demographics, hospital characteristics, liver disease etiology, presence of liver disease decompensations, Elixhauser comorbidities, and interventions. Patients were classified as being treated at three hospital groups: non-teaching hospitals (NTHs), teaching non-transplant centers (TNTCs), and teaching transplant centers (TTCs). The relationship between hospital teaching/transplant status and in-hospital mortality and transplant-free mortality was examined using multivariable linear and logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 159,845 patients met the criteria for HRS. Of these, 24% were admitted to NTHs, 50.8% to TNTCs, and 25.2% to TTCs. Admission to a TTC was independently associated with a lower mortality risk compared to admission to non-TTCs (aOR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.68-0.83, P <0.001). Patients at TTCs had a lower transplant-free mortality risk than those at NTHs (aOR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.67-0.83, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in all-cause or transplant-free mortality between TNTCs and NTHs.

Conclusion

Patients with HRS admitted to TTCs have higher disease severity, but significantly improved outcomes compared to those admitted to NTHs. These data suggest opportunities for increased disease awareness and education among NTHs and support early referral for liver transplant evaluation among hospitalized patients with HRS.

Kidney disease in patients with chronic liver disease: Does sex matter?

Kidney disease in patients with liver disease is serious and increases mortality. Up to 50% of patients hospitalized experience an episode of acute kidney injury. In general, men with liver disease are thought to be at increased risk of kidney disease. However, this association should be considered with caution because most studies use creatinine-based inclusion criteria, which is negatively biased against women. In this review, we synthesize data on sex differences in kidney disease in patients with chronic liver disease in the clinical setting and discuss potential physiologic underpinnings.