Hyponatraemia induced by terlipressin: a case report and literature review

Management of hepatic hydropericardium with open drainage, maximal medical therapy and terlipressin

We present the case of a woman in her 60s with Child-Pugh C cirrhosis who developed pericardial tamponade during an admission for a haemothorax secondary to a mechanical fall. The patient developed haemodynamic compromise with a rapid decline in renal function. During an open subxiphoid drain tube insertion, a pre-existing peritoneopericardial communication was noted, with ascites in the peritoneal cavity on view. The serum ascites albumin gradient was 14 g/L. Maximal medical therapy was commenced including diuresis and albumin, with adjunctive terlipressin infusion which restored her baseline renal function and resolved the effusion. We believe this is the first case report of using open drainage, maximal medical therapy and terlipressin to successfully treat hepatic hydropericardium and its subsequent renal compromise.

Terlipressin: Current and emerging indications in chronic liver disease

Terlipressin is an analogue of vasopressin that has potent vasoactive properties and has been available for use in most countries for nearly two decades. It has both established roles and emerging indications in the management of complications of decompensated chronic liver disease. We explore historic and emerging literature regarding the use of terlipressin for a range of indications including hepatorenal syndrome, portal hypertensive bleeding, and disruptions in sodium homeostasis. Novel methods of infusion-based terlipressin administration including the beneficial effect in reduction of adverse events are explored, in addition to new indications for the use of terlipressin in decompensated cirrhosis in an outpatient setting.