Noradrenaline vs terlipressin in the treatment of type 2 hepatorenal syndrome: a randomized pilot study

Efficacy and safety of terlipressin and albumin vs. noradrenaline and albumin in adult patients with hepatorenal syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a serious complication of cirrhosis treated with various medications. We aim to evaluate terlipressin and albumin's effectiveness and safety compared to albumin and noradrenaline in adult hepatorenal disease patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical trials from four databases were included. Cochrane's approach for calculating bias risk was utilized. We rated the quality evaluation by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). We included the following outcomes: serum creatinine (mg/dl), urine output (ml/24 h), mean arterial pressure (mmHg), reversal rate of HRS, mortality rate, blood plasma renin activity (ng/ml/h), plasma aldosterone concentration (pg/ml), urine sodium (mEq/l), and creatinine clearance (ml/min).

RESULTS

Our analysis of nine clinical studies revealed that the noradrenaline group was associated with higher creatinine clearance (MD = 4.22 [0.40, 8.05]), (P = 0.03). There were no significant differences in serum creatinine levels (MD = 0.03 [-0.07, 0.13]), urinary sodium (MD = -1.02 [-5.15, 3.11]), urine output (MD = 32.75 [-93.94, 159.44]), mean arterial pressure (MD = 1.40 [-1.17, 3.96]), plasma renin activity (MD = 1.35 [-0.17, 2.87]), plasma aldosterone concentration (MD = 55.35 [-24.59, 135.29]), reversal rate of HRS (RR = 1.15 [0.96, 1.37]), or mortality rate (RR = 0.87 [0.74, 1.01]) between the two groups (p-values > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Noradrenaline is a safe alternative medical therapy for HRS.

Management of hepatorenal syndrome and treatment-related adverse events

Hepatorenal Syndrome is a critical complication of liver failure, mainly in cirrhotic patients and rarely in patients with acute liver disease. It is a complex spectrum of conditions that leads to renal dysfunction in the liver cirrhosis population; the pathophysiology is characterized by a specific triad: circulatory dysfunction, nitric oxide (NO) dysfunction and systemic inflammation but a specific kidney damage has never been demonstrated, in a clinicopathological study, kidney biopsies of patients with cirrhosis showed a wide spectrum of kidney damage. In addition, the absence of significant hematuria or proteinuria does not exclude renal damage. It is estimated that 40% of cirrhotic patients will develop hepatorenal syndrome with in-hospital mortality of about one-third of these patients. The burden of the problem is dramatic considering the worldwide prevalence of more than 10 million decompensated cirrhotic patients, and the age-standardized prevalence rate of decompensated cirrhosis has gone through a significant rise between 1990 and 2017. Given the syndrome's poor prognosis, the clinician must know how to manage early treatment and any complications. The widespread adoption of albumin and vasopressors has increased Hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney injury reversal and may increase overall survival, as previously shown. Further research is needed to define whether the subclassification of patients may allow to find a personalized strategy to treat Hepatorenal Syndrome and to define the role of new molecules and extracorporeal treatment may allow better outcomes with a reduction in treatment-related adverse effects. This review aims to examine both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of hepatorenal syndrome, with a particular focus on managing adverse events caused by treatment.

A Review of Terlipressin in Hepatorenal Syndrome: Targeting Endothelial Dysfunction and Subsequent Cardiovascular Adverse Events

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a serious complication of decompensated liver cirrhosis that results in acute kidney injury (AKI). The mortality rate is high. Endothelial dysfunction secondary to liver cirrhosis is a key driver of the development of portal hypertension, which is eventually complicated by ascites and HRS. Ultimately, splanchnic vasodilation and excess gut lymph production result in ascites, low effective arterial blood volume, and maladaptive compensatory mechanisms that contribute to renal hypoperfusion and injury. While the only curative treatment is liver transplantation, vasoconstrictors and albumin have been the mainstay of treatment for candidates who are ineligible or waiting for transplantation. On September 14, 2022, terlipressin, a V1 vasopressin receptor agonist, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HRS-AKI. In clinical trials, terlipressin plus albumin have been superior to albumin alone and equivocal to noradrenaline plus albumin in renal function improvement. Terlipressin, however, does not improve survival, is costly, and is associated with severe adverse events-including severe cardiac and vascular complications. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of terlipressin pharmacology, adverse events-with a focus on cardiovascular complications-and comparative randomized controlled trials that resulted in the Food and Drug Administration's approval of terlipressin. New literature since its approval and ongoing clinical trials will also be highlighted.

Lower uromodulin serum levels are associated with poorer prognosis in patients with cirrhosis and hepatorenal syndrome type 2

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is associated with a dismal prognosis in patients with cirrhosis, and therapeutic options are limited. Biomarkers to identify patients with poor response to therapy are urgently needed. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of serum levels of uromodulin (sUMOD) in patients with cirrhosis and HRS treated with terlipressin and albumin (T/A). In total, 156 patients [81 patients with HRS treated with T/A, 42 patients with cirrhosis without kidney injury, and 33 patients with cirrhosis with prerenal acute kidney injury (AKI)] were included. sUMOD levels were analyzed by ELISA. Patients with HRS were prospectively followed for the composite endpoint of hemodialysis-/liver transplantation-free survival (HD/LTx-free survival). Of the 81 patients with HRS, 40 had HRS type 1 and 41 type 2. In the cohort of patients with HRS treated with T/A, median sUMOD level was 100 ng/mL (IQR 64; 144). sUMOD differed significantly between patients with HRS compared with patients without AKI (P = 0.001) but not between patients with HRS and prerenal AKI (P = 0.9). In multivariable analyses, sUMOD levels in the lowest quartile were independently associated with a lower rate of complete response to T/A (OR 0.042, P = 0.008) and a higher risk for reaching the composite endpoint of HD/LTX-free survival (HR 2.706, P = 0.013) in patients with HRS type 2 treated with T/A. In contrast, sUMOD was not significantly associated with these outcomes in patients with HRS type 1. sUMOD may be a valuable biomarker for identifying patients with HRS type 2 treated with T/A to predict response and prognosis.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Biomarkers identifying patients with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) and poor response to therapy are urgently needed. In this study, lower serum uromodulin (sUMOD) levels were associated with poorer response to therapy with terlipressin and albumin and consequently with poorer prognosis in patients with HRS type 2. In patients with HRS type 1, there was no association between sUMOD and poorer prognosis.

Management of hepatorenal syndrome and associated outcomes: a systematic reviews

BACKGROUND

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), a multiorgan condition of acute kidney injury, is seen in advanced liver disease. This study aims to evaluate the current treatment for HRS.

METHODS

The authors searched PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar literature. After quality assessment, 31 studies were included in this review. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology and the population, intervention, comparison and outcome scheme were used. We included human-controlled trials that evaluate the current treatment for HRS. Two authors independently screened articles for inclusion, extracted data and assessed the quality of included studies.

RESULTS

This study investigated the studies conducted on the effects of different treatments on follow-up of HRS patients. We gathered 440 articles, so 31 articles remained in our study. Of which 24 articles were conducted on terlipressin versus placebo or other treatments (midodrine/octreotide, norepinephrine, etc) that showed the higher rate of HRS reversal was detected for terlipressin in 17 studies (10 of them were significant), 2 studies achieved an insignificant lower rate of the model for end-stage liver disease score for terlipressin, 15 studies showed a decreased mortality rate in the terlipressin group (4 of them were significant).

CONCLUSION

This review showed that terlipressin has a significantly higher reversal rate of HRS than the other treatments. Even the results showed that terlipressin is more efficient than midodrine/octreotide and norepinephrine as a previous medication, in reverse HRS, increasing patient survival.

From past to present to future: Terlipressin and hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney injury

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a rare and highly morbid form of kidney injury unique to patients with decompensated cirrhosis. HRS is a physiologic consequence of portal hypertension, leading to a functional kidney injury that can be reversed by restoring effective circulating volume and renal perfusion. While liver transplantation is the only definitive "cure" for HRS, medical management with vasoconstrictors and i.v. albumin is a cornerstone of supportive care. Terlipressin, a V1a receptor agonist that acts on the splanchnic circulation, has been used for many years outside the United States for the treatment of HRS. However, its recent Food and Drug Administration approval has generated new interest in this population, as a new base of prescribers now work to incorporate the drug into clinical practice. In this article, we review HRS pathophysiology and diagnostic criteria, the clinical use of terlipressin and alternative therapies, and identify areas of future research in the space of HRS and kidney injury in cirrhosis.

Terlipressin for the Prevention and Treatment of Renal Decline in Hepatorenal Syndrome: A Drug Profile

Hepatorenal syndrome stands as one of several potential triggers of acute kidney injury in individuals grappling with either acute or persistent liver ailments. The nature of the decline in kidney function has led to the identification of two variants of hepatorenal syndrome. In cases where terlipressin therapy is accessible, the initial approach involves administering terlipressin alongside albumin. Terlipressin, a synthetic analog of vasopressin, boasts double the preference for vasopressin V1 receptors compared to V2 receptors. The FDA granted approval to terlipressin in September 2022, demonstrating its intrinsic activity, although a significant portion of its function arises from its transformation into lysine vasopressin. This article provides a comprehensive examination of terlipressin's various pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic facets, as well as its clinical utility, aiming to keep the scientific community well informed about its safe and efficient utilization.

Use of albumin infusion for cirrhosis-related complications: An international position statement

Background & Aims

Numerous studies have evaluated the role of human albumin (HA) in managing various liver cirrhosis-related complications. However, their conclusions remain partially controversial, probably because HA was evaluated in different settings, including indications, patient characteristics, and dosage and duration of therapy.

Methods

Thirty-three investigators from 19 countries with expertise in the management of liver cirrhosis-related complications were invited to organise an International Special Interest Group. A three-round Delphi consensus process was conducted to complete the international position statement on the use of HA for treatment of liver cirrhosis-related complications.

Results

Twelve clinically significant position statements were proposed. Short-term infusion of HA should be recommended for the management of hepatorenal syndrome, large volume paracentesis, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in liver cirrhosis. Its effects on the prevention or treatment of other liver cirrhosis-related complications should be further elucidated. Long-term HA administration can be considered in specific settings. Pulmonary oedema should be closely monitored as a potential adverse effect in cirrhotic patients receiving HA infusion.

Conclusions

Based on the currently available evidence, the international position statement suggests the potential benefits of HA for the management of multiple liver cirrhosis-related complications and summarises its safety profile. However, its optimal timing and infusion strategy remain to be further elucidated.

Impact and implications

Thirty-three investigators from 19 countries proposed 12 position statements on the use of human albumin (HA) infusion in liver cirrhosis-related complications. Based on current evidence, short-term HA infusion should be recommended for the management of HRS, LVP, and SBP; whereas, long-term HA administration can be considered in the setting where budget and logistical issues can be resolved. However, pulmonary oedema should be closely monitored in cirrhotic patients who receive HA infusion.

Terlipressin in the management of adults with hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney injury (HRS-AKI)

INTRODUCTION

Kidney is the most common extra-hepatic organ involved in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure. Hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney injury (HRS-AKI) accounts for most hospitalizations, and liver transplantation (LT) remains the ultimate and long-term treatment in such patients. However, HRS-AKI, being a functional renal failure, has a fair chance of reversal, and as such, patients who achieve reversal of HRS-AKI have better outcomes post-LT.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we discuss the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and evidence to support the use of terlipressin in HRS-AKI while we also address predictors of response and the associated adverse events. Further, we discuss the role of terlipressin in the context of LT.

EXPERT OPINION

The recommended treatment for HRS-AKI reversal includes a vasoconstrictor in addition to volume expansion with albumin. The three vasoconstrictor regimens generally used to treat HRS-AKI include octreotide plus midodrine, noradrenaline, and terlipressin. Of these, terlipressin is a widely used drug and has been recently approved by US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for HRS-AKI. Terlipressin is the most effective drug for HRS-AKI reversal and is associated with a decreased need for renal replacement therapy pre- and post-transplant. Furthermore, terlipressin responders have improved transplant-free and post-transplant survival.

A Systematic Review of the Emerging Treatment for Hepatorenal Syndrome With a Principal Focus on Terlipressin: A Recent FDA-Approved Drug

BACKGROUND

 Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), a consequence of liver cirrhosis, is the development of renal failure, which carries a grave prognosis. Reversing acute renal failure with various vasoconstrictor therapies at an appropriate time favors a good prognosis, especially when a liver transplant is not feasible.

OBJECTIVE

 This study aims to compare various treatment modalities to deduce an effective way to manage HRS.

METHODS

 The authors conducted a literature search in PubMed, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library, and Science Direct in October 2022, using regular and MeSH keywords. A total of 1072 articles were identified. The PRISMA guidelines were used, the PICO framework was addressed, and the inclusion criteria were set based on studies from the past 10 years. After quality assessment, 14 studies were included for in-depth analysis in this review.  Results: A total of 14 studies were included after quality assessment, including randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and observational cohort studies. Nine hundred and forty-one patients represented this review's experimental and observational studies, apart from the other systematic reviews analyzed. Nine studies discovered that Terlipressin, especially when administered with albumin, was more effective than other conventional treatment modalities, including norepinephrine and midodrine, in terms of improving mortality and reversing the HRS. Four studies suggested that terlipressin exhibited similar effectiveness but found no significant difference. In contrast, one study found that norepinephrine was superior to terlipressin when particularly considering the adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

 Terlipressin, one of the most widely used vasoconstrictor agents across the world, seems to be effective in reversing renal failure in HRS. Although adverse effects are seen with this agent, it is still beneficial when compared to other medications. Further studies with larger sample sizes may be warranted.

Transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt in cirrhotic patients with hepatorenal syndrome - chronic kidney disease: Impact on renal function

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPS) ameliorates renal function in type-2 hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). Available evidence is based on 'old' HRS diagnostic criteria, and not on the current definition of HRS - chronic kidney disease (HRS-CKD). Among patients who underwent TIPS for refractory ascites over the last 12 years, we investigated clinical and renal function evolution of those with HRS-CKD.

METHODS

among 212 patients, 41 with HRS-CKD were included. Renal function was evaluated for 12 months after TIPS, along with management of ascites and transplant-free survival (TFS).

RESULTS

renal function significantly improved already one week after TIPS [serum creatinine (sCr): 1.37 ± 0.23 vs 1.94 ± 0.54 mg/dl, p< 0.001]; the amelioration was maintained during the whole follow-up and was observed in every CKD stage, defined according to baseline estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR). sCr and eGFR became comparable between different CKD stages after only one week, whilst significantly different at baseline. TIPS led to a remarkable improvement in the control of ascites in all CKD stages and no significant differences in TFS were recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

TIPS led to an early, substantial and persistent improvement in renal function in patients with HRS-CKD, irrespective of their baseline CKD stage.

The Comparative Effectiveness of Vasoactive Treatments for Hepatorenal Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Evidence examining commonly used drug treatments remains uncertain. We assessed the comparative effectiveness of inpatient treatments for HRS by performing a network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

DATA SOURCES

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

Pairs of reviewers independently identified eligible RCTs that enrolled patients with type 1 or 2 HRS. Pairs of reviewers independently extracted data.

DATA SYNTHESIS

We assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane tool for RCTs and certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations approach. Our main outcomes are all-cause mortality, HRS reversal, and serious adverse events. Of 3,079 citations, we included 26 RCTs examining 1,736 patients. Based on pooled analysis, terlipressin increases HRS reversal compared with placebo (142 reversals per 1,000 [95% CI, >87.7 to >210.9]; high certainty). Norepinephrine (112.7 reversals per 1,000 [95% CI, 52.6 to >192.3]) may increase HRS reversal compared with placebo (low certainty). The effect of midodrine+octreotide (67.8 reversals per 1,000 [95% CI, <2.8 to >177.4]; very low) on HRS reversal is uncertain. Terlipressin may reduce mortality compared with placebo (93.7 fewer deaths [95% CI, 168.7 to <12.5]; low certainty). Terlipressin probably increases the risk of serious adverse events compared with placebo (20.4 more events per 1,000 [95% CI, <5.1 to >51]; moderate certainty).

CONCLUSIONS

Terlipressin increases HRS reversal compared with placebo. Terlipressin may reduce mortality. Until access to terlipressin improves, initial norepinephrine administration may be more appropriate than initial trial with midodrine+octreotide. Our review has the potential to inform future guideline and practice in the treatment of HRS.

Practice guidance for the use of terlipressin for liver cirrhosis-related complications

BACKGROUND

Liver cirrhosis is a major global health burden worldwide due to its high risk of morbidity and mortality. Role of terlipressin for the management of liver cirrhosis-related complications has been recognized during recent years. This article aims to develop evidence-based clinical practice guidance on the use of terlipressin for liver cirrhosis-related complications.

METHODS

Hepatobiliary Study Group of the Chinese Society of Gastroenterology of the Chinese Medical Association and Hepatology Committee of the Chinese Research Hospital Association have invited gastroenterologists, hepatologists, infectious disease specialists, surgeons, and clinical pharmacists to formulate the clinical practice guidance based on comprehensive literature review and experts' clinical experiences.

RESULTS

Overall, 10 major guidance statements regarding efficacy and safety of terlipressin in liver cirrhosis were proposed. Terlipressin can be beneficial for the management of cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). However, the evidence regarding the use of terlipressin in cirrhotic patients with ascites, post-paracentesis circulatory dysfunction, and bacterial infections and in those undergoing hepatic resection and liver transplantation remains insufficient. Terlipressin-related adverse events, mainly including gastrointestinal symptoms, electrolyte disturbance, and cardiovascular and respiratory adverse events, should be closely monitored.

CONCLUSION

The current clinical practice guidance supports the use of terlipressin for gastroesophageal variceal bleeding and HRS in liver cirrhosis. High-quality studies are needed to further clarify its potential effects in other liver cirrhosis-related complications.

Mean arterial pressure drop is an independent risk factor of hepatorenal syndrome in patients with HBV-ACLF

BACKGROUND/AIMS

In patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), type 1 hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a critical organ failure complication that resulted in rapid mortality. There are no efficient parameters to predict HRS in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related ACLF. To assess HBV-ACLF risk factors and evaluate the association between mean arterial pressures (MAP), HRS and survival in patients with HBV-ACLF.

METHODS

A total of 420 ACLF patients were screened from June 2015 to June 2016, and 57 HBV-ACLF patients were included in the study. Clinical data and MAP measurements of these patients were collected. Multivariate analyses, Cox proportional hazards regression and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze.

RESULTS

In a 30-day study period, 43 (75.44%) patients survived. Patients in the HRS group were older and had higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores than patients in the non-HRS group. A MAP drop of ≥9.5 mmHg was an independent predictor of HRS with a sensitivity and specificity of 92.86 and 69.77%, respectively. The baseline MELD score was also an independent risk factor of HRS. MAP drop (OR, 1.582; P = 0.000), prothrombin time, HRS, MELD and FIB were independent prognostic factors for 30-day mortality. The area under the ROC curve of MAP drop was 0.808 (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

A decrease in MAP was a valuable predictor of HRS in patients with HBV-related ACLF. MAP drop ≥9.5 mmHg may be useful for predicting patient prognosis and exploring new treatment measures in patients with HBV-related ACLF.

Hepatorenal Syndrome: Definitions, Diagnosis, and Management

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a hemodynamically driven process mediated by renal dysregulation and inflammatory response. Albumin, antibiotics, and β-blockers are among therapies that have been studied in HRS prevention. There are no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for HRS although multiple liver societies have recommended terlipressin as first-line pharmacotherapy. Renal replacement therapy is the primary modality used to bridge to definitive therapy with orthotopic liver transplant or simultaneous liver-kidney transplant. Advances in our understanding of HRS pathophysiology and emerging therapeutic modalities are needed to change outcomes for this vulnerable population.

Droxidopa in the Management of Hepatorenal Syndrome

PURPOSE

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is renal dysfunction associated with the hemodynamic consequences of advanced liver disease and cirrhosis. HRS is associated with a high mortality, and there remain high failure rates with first-line therapy aimed at improving perfusion. We report the use of droxidopa, an oral norepinephrine precursor, to aid in the management of HRS-AKI refractory to first-line therapy.

SUMMARY

A 51-year-old Caucasian male with alcohol-related cirrhosis presented with 1-week history of pre-syncope and falls. He was found to have acute kidney injury meeting diagnostic criteria of HRS based on absence of identifiable contributing factors. After no response to volume expansion, medical management was initiated with midodrine and octreotide and eventually escalated to norepinephrine intravenous infusion. The patient's renal function and urine output improved initially on norepinephrine, but worsened when attempting to wean to a suitable outpatient regimen, becoming dependent upon norepinephrine. On day 13 of hospitalization, droxidopa was initiated at a dose of 100 mg three times daily and titrated to a dose of 400 mg three times daily. Norepinephrine infusion was weaned and discontinued on day 16 of hospitalization. The patient remained hemodynamically stable and was able to be discharged on droxidopa 400 mg three times daily, midodrine 20 mg three times day, and octreotide 200 mcg three times daily.

CONCLUSION

Droxidopa, an oral norepinephrine precursor, presents a novel adjunctive agent for management of HRS refractory to first-line medical management.

Hepatorenal syndrome: pathophysiology and evidence-based management update

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a functional renal failure that develops in patients with advanced hepatic cirrhosis with ascites and in those with fulminant hepatic failure. The prevalence of HRS varies among studies but in general it is the third most common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in cirrhotic patients after pre-renal azotemia and acute tubular necrosis. HRS carries a grim prognosis with a mortality rate approaching 90% three months after disease diagnosis. Fortunately, different strategies have been proven to be successful in preventing HRS. Although treatment options are available, they are not universally effective in restoring renal function but they might prolong survival long enough for liver transplantation, which is the ultimate treatment. Much has been learned in the last two decades regarding the pathophysiology and management of this disease which lead to notable evolution in the HRS definition and better understanding on how best to manage HRS patients. In the current review, we will summarize the recent advancement in epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of HRS.

Acute kidney injury and hepatorenal syndrome in cirrhosis

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in cirrhosis, including hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), is a common and serious complication in cirrhotic patients, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. AKI is separated into two categories, non-HRS AKI and HRS-AKI. The most recent definition and diagnostic criteria of AKI in cirrhosis and HRS have helped diagnose and prognosticate the disease. The pathophysiology behind non-HRS-AKI and HRS is more complicated than once theorized and involves more processes than just splanchnic vasodilation. The common biomarkers clinicians use to assess kidney injury have significant limitations in cirrhosis patients; novel biomarkers being studied have shown promise but require further studies in clinical settings and animal models. The overall management of non-HRS AKI and HRS-AKI requires a systematic approach. Although pharmacological treatments have shown mortality benefit, the ideal HRS treatment option is liver transplantation with or without simultaneous kidney transplantation. Further research is required to optimize pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches to treatment. This article reviews the current guidelines and recommendations of AKI in cirrhosis.

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for Liver Cirrhosis 2020

The first edition of the clinical practice guidelines for liver cirrhosis was published in 2010, and the second edition was published in 2015 by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology (JSGE). The revised third edition was recently published in 2020. This version has become a joint guideline by the JSGE and the Japan Society of Hepatology (JSH). In addition to the clinical questions (CQs), background questions (BQs) are new items for basic clinical knowledge, and future research questions (FRQs) are newly added clinically important items. Concerning the clinical treatment of liver cirrhosis, new findings have been reported over the past 5 years since the second edition. In this revision, we decided to match the international standards as much as possible by referring to the latest international guidelines. Newly developed agents for various complications have also made great progress. In comparison with the latest global guidelines, such as the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), we are introducing data based on the evidence for clinical practice in Japan. The flowchart for nutrition therapy was reviewed to be useful for daily medical care by referring to overseas guidelines. We also explain several clinically important items that have recently received focus and were not mentioned in the last editions. This digest version describes the issues related to the management of liver cirrhosis and several complications in clinical practice. The content begins with a diagnostic algorithm, the revised flowchart for nutritional therapy, and refracted ascites, which are of great importance to patients with cirrhosis. In addition to the updated antiviral therapy for hepatitis B and C liver cirrhosis, the latest treatments for non-viral cirrhosis, such as alcoholic steatohepatitis/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH/NASH) and autoimmune-related cirrhosis, are also described. It also covers the latest evidence regarding the diagnosis and treatment of liver cirrhosis complications, namely gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, hepatorenal syndrome and acute kidney injury, hepatic encephalopathy, portal thrombus, sarcopenia, muscle cramp, thrombocytopenia, pruritus, hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, and vitamin D deficiency, including BQ, CQ and FRQ. Finally, this guideline covers prognosis prediction and liver transplantation, especially focusing on several new findings since the last version. Since this revision is a joint guideline by both societies, the same content is published simultaneously in the official English journal of JSGE and JSH.

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for liver cirrhosis 2020

The first edition of the clinical practice guidelines for liver cirrhosis was published in 2010, and the second edition was published in 2015 by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology (JSGE). The revised third edition was recently published in 2020. This version has become a joint guideline by the JSGE and the Japanese Society of Hepatology (JSH). In addition to the clinical questions (CQs), background questions (BQs) are new items for basic clinical knowledge, and future research questions (FRQs) are newly added clinically important items. Concerning the clinical treatment of liver cirrhosis, new findings have been reported over the past 5 years since the second edition. In this revision, we decided to match the international standards as much as possible by referring to the latest international guidelines. Newly developed agents for various complications have also made great progress. In comparison with the latest global guidelines, such as the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), we are introducing data based on the evidence for clinical practice in Japan. The flowchart for nutrition therapy was reviewed to be useful for daily medical care by referring to overseas guidelines. We also explain several clinically important items that have recently received focus and were not mentioned in the last editions. This digest version describes the issues related to the management of liver cirrhosis and several complications in clinical practice. The content begins with a diagnostic algorithm, the revised flowchart for nutritional therapy, and refracted ascites, which are of great importance to patients with cirrhosis. In addition to the updated antiviral therapy for hepatitis B and C liver cirrhosis, the latest treatments for non-viral cirrhosis, such as alcoholic steatohepatitis/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH/NASH) and autoimmune-related cirrhosis, are also described. It also covers the latest evidence regarding the diagnosis and treatment of liver cirrhosis complications, namely gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, hepatorenal syndrome and acute kidney injury, hepatic encephalopathy, portal thrombus, sarcopenia, muscle cramp, thrombocytopenia, pruritus, hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, and vitamin D deficiency, including BQ, CQ and FRQ. Finally, this guideline covers prognosis prediction and liver transplantation, especially focusing on several new findings since the last version. Since this revision is a joint guideline by both societies, the same content is published simultaneously in the official English journal of JSGE and JSH.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Radiologic Management of Portal Hypertension

Cirrhosis is a heterogeneous disease that cannot be studied as a single entity and is classified in two main prognostic stages: compensated and decompensated cirrhosis. Portal hypertension, characterized by a pathological increase of the portal pressure and by the formation of portal-systemic collaterals that bypass the liver, is the initial and main consequence of cirrhosis and is responsible for the majority of its complications. A myriad of treatment options exists for appropriately managing the most common complications of portal hypertension, including acute variceal bleeding and refractory ascites. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Long-term albumin infusion in decompensated cirrhosis: A review of current literature

Decompensated cirrhosis is characterized by chronic inflammation and severe portal hypertension leading to systemic circulatory dysfunction. Albumin infusion has been widely used in decompensated cirrhosis in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, large-volume paracentesis and hepatorenal syndrome. Emerging data suggest long-term albumin infusion has both oncotic and non-oncotic properties which may improve the clinical outcomes in decompensated cirrhosis patients. We review the current literature on both the established and potential role of albumin, and specifically address the controversies of long-term albumin infusion in decompensated cirrhosis patients.

Chronic renal dysfunction in cirrhosis: A new frontier in hepatology

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with liver cirrhosis has become a new frontier in hepatology. In recent years, a sharp increase in the diagnosis of CKD has been observed among patients with cirrhosis. The rising prevalence of risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, appears to have contributed significantly to the high prevalence of CKD. Moreover, the diagnosis of CKD in cirrhosis is now based on a reduction in the estimated glomerular filtration rate of < 60 mL/min over more than 3 mo. This definition has resulted in a better differentiation of CKD from acute kidney injury (AKI), leading to its greater recognition. It has also been noted that a significant proportion of AKI transforms into CKD in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. CKD in cirrhosis can be structural CKD due to kidney injury or functional CKD secondary to circulatory and neurohormonal imbalances. The available literature on combined cirrhosis-CKD is extremely limited, as most attempts to assess renal dysfunction in cirrhosis have so far concentrated on AKI. Due to problems related to glomerular filtration rate estimation in cirrhosis, the absence of reliable biomarkers of CKD and technical difficulties in performing renal biopsy in advanced cirrhosis, CKD in cirrhosis can present many challenges for clinicians. With combined hepatorenal dysfunctions, fluid mobilization becomes problematic, and there may be difficulties with drug tolerance, hemodialysis and decision-making regarding the need for liver vs simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation. This paper offers a thorough overview of the increasingly known CKD in patients with cirrhosis, with clinical consequences and difficulties occurring in the diagnosis and treatment of such patients.

Terlipressin has stood the test of time: Clinical overview in 2020 and future perspectives

Vasoactive drugs form the mainstay of therapy for two of the most important complications of liver disease: hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) and acute variceal bleed (AVB). With cumulative evidence supporting the use in cirrhosis, terlipressin has been recommended for the management of HRS and AVB. However, owing to the safety concerns, terlipressin was not approved by food and drug administration (FDA) until now. In this review, we discuss the pharmacology and the major practice-changing studies on the safety and efficacy of terlipressin in patients with cirrhosis particularly focusing on existing indications like AVB and HRS and reviewing new data on the expanding indications in liver disease. The references for this review were identified from PUBMED with MeSH terms such as "terlipressin," "hepatorenal syndrome," "varices, esophagal and gastric," "ascites" and "cirrhosis." Terlipressin, a synthetic analogue of vasopressin, was introduced in 1975 to overcome the adverse effects of vasopressin. Terlipressin is an effective drug for HRS reversal in patients with liver cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure. There is documented mortality benefit with terlipressin therapy in HRS and AVB. Adverse effects are common with terlipressin and need to be monitored strictly. There is some evidence to support the use of this drug in refractory ascites, hepatic hydrothorax, paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction and perioperatively during liver transplantation. However, terlipressin is not yet recommended for such indications. In conclusion, terlipressin has stood the test of time with expanding indications and clear prerequisites for clinical use. Our review warrants a fresh perspective on the efficacy and safety of terlipressin.

Prevalence and short-term outcome of hepatorenal syndrome: A 9-year experience in a high-complexity hospital in Colombia

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Hepatorenal syndrome is a rare entity that is part of the complications of liver cirrhosis in its more severe stages. Without treatment, its mortality rate increases significantly. Terlipressin is considered to be the therapy of choice until the need of a liver transplant. The aim is to determine its prevalence, define patients' characteristics, triggers and 90-day survival, according to the type of managements established.

METHOD

This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in Colombia. It included patients with cirrhosis and acute kidney injury who met hepatorenal syndrome criteria, reaching 28 patients from 2007 to 2015. Groups were categorized according the type of hepatorenal syndrome and treatment. Demographic and trigger factors were evaluated to characterize the population. Treatment outcomes with terlipressin vs norepinephrine were analyzed up to a 90-day survival, using log Rank test. Continuous variables needed Student's T and Mann Whitney's U tests and categorical variables, Chi2 test. A value of p <0.05 and a power of 85% was considered. The data was analyzed in the SPSS version 23 software.

RESULTS

117 patients with cirrhosis developed renal injury; of these 23.9% were diagnosed with Hepatorenal Syndrome (67.8% type1; 32.1% type2). The presence of ascites was 100% in HRS2 and 84% in HRS1 (p = 0.296). The main trigger in both types was paracentesis greater than 5 liters in the last 4 weeks (39.3%). In total, 35% of the patients received renal replacement therapy and 14% underwent a hepatic transplant. Type 1 was more frequent (63% received terlipressin; 21% norepinephrine). The total complete response was 36% (Type2 66.6% vs. Type1 18.7%) (p = 0.026). In contrast, the overall mortality was of 67.8% at 90-day of follow-up (89.4% Type1 vs. 22% Type2) (p = <0.001). We found a lower mortality rate in patients treated with terlipressin than treated with norepinephrine (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

There is scarce clinical and epidemiological information about this condition in Colombia. A significant difference between the two drugs cannot be stipulated due to the limitation in the sample size of our study. The general mortality at a 90-day follow-up was high, being higher in patients with HRS1. While the results of this study are suggestive of clinical information for HRS patients in the Colombian population, they should also be interpreted with caution, therefore further multicenter studies should be performed.

Comparison of Hemodynamic Responses to Administration of Vasopressin and Norepinephrine Under General Anesthesia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials with Trial Sequential Analysis

OBJECTIVE

The authors performed a meta-analysis to determine if vasopressin improves hypotension more than norepinephrine under general anesthesia.

DESIGN

Meta-analysis.

SETTING

Operating room.

PATIENTS

Patients who underwent surgery, with general anesthesia.

INTERVENTIONS

Administration of vasopressin or norepinephrine in order to increase blood pressure.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary outcome of this study was to determine if vasopressin increased mean blood pressure more effectively compared with norepinephrine for patients under general anesthesia. The secondary outcome was to see if vasopressin increased heart rate (HR), central venous pressure (CVP), cardiac output (CO), and cardiac index (CI) more significantly compared with norepinephrine under general anesthesia. The authors calculated the weighted mean difference, with 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random-effects model, and calculated the required information size (RIS) by performing trial sequential analysis (TSA). The authors selected 6 studies for analysis. Vasopressin did not improve hypotension compared with norepinephrine under general anesthesia. (weighted mean difference = -0.84 mmHg, 95% CI: -5.90 to 4.23, p = 0.75, Cochran Q = 24.6, I² = 84%) In TSA, only 35.5% of RIS was achieved. Similarly, vasopressin and norepinephrine were not significantly different in terms of HR, CVP, CO, and CI. In TSA, only 23.7% of the RIS was reached for HR but RIS was almost achieved for CVP and CO.

CONCLUSIONS

Vasopressin did not improve hypotension compared with norepinephrine under general anesthesia. The RIS was not reached in TSA, and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation is very low. Therefore, further research is needed to reach more robust conclusions.

Vasoconstrictors in hepatorenal syndrome - A critical review

Hepatorenal syndrome has the worst prognosis among causes of acute kidney injury in cirrhotic patients. Its definitive treatment is liver transplantation. Nevertheless, considering its high short-term mortality rate and the shortage of liver grafts, a pharmacological treatment is of utmost importance, serving as a bridge to liver transplant. The clinical management of hepatorenal syndrome is currently based on the use of a vasoconstrictor in association with albumin. Terlipressin, noradrenaline and the combination of midodrine and octreotide could be used to treat hepatorenal syndrome. Among these options, terlipressin seems to gather the strongest body of evidence regarding efficacy and should be considered the first line of treatment whenever available and in the absence of contraindications. Treatment with a vasoconstrictor and albumin should be promptly initiated after the diagnosis of hepatorenal syndrome in order for patients to have higher chances of recovery.

Effect of terlipressin on renal function in cirrhotic patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding

BACKGROUND

Renal dysfunction is a serious morbidity in cirrhotic patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB). Terlipressin is the first-line treatment choice for acute variceal bleeding and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). This study aimed to assess the effect of terlipressin on renal function in patients with liver cirrhosis and AUGIB.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 40 cirrhotic patients with AUGIB treated with terlipressin by an attending physician between January 2016 and June 2018. We analyzed the change of renal function parameters, including cystatin C (CysC) and creatinine (Cr), during the use of terlipressin and after terlipressin was stopped. We also identified the factors associated with renal function improvement in patients without active bleeding during the use of terlipressin.

RESULTS

During the use of terlipressin, CysC value was significantly reduced (1.3±0.8 vs. 1.1±0.7, P=0.001); Cr value was reduced, but the reduction was not statistically significant (68.8±24 vs. 65.5±23, P=0.817); the rate of CysC reduction was significantly higher in patients treated with terlipressin than those treated with somatostatin/octreotide (73.1% vs. 0%, P=0.005); the rate of Cr reduction was not significantly different between patients treated with terlipressin and somatostatin/octreotide (61.5% vs. 20%, P=0.148); no factor associated with CysC reduction was identified; higher hemoglobin, red blood cell, and platelet and lower prothrombin time and international normalized ratio at baseline were significantly associated with Cr reduction. After terlipressin was stopped, neither CysC nor Cr value was significantly reduced (P=0.852 and P=0.296).

CONCLUSIONS

Terlipressin may be beneficial on preventing renal function impairment in cirrhotic patients with AUGIB.

Reappraising the spectrum of AKI and hepatorenal syndrome in patients with cirrhosis

The occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with end-stage liver disease constitutes one of the most challenging clinical scenarios in in-hospital and critical care medicine. Hepatorenal syndrome type 1 (HRS-1), which is a specific type of AKI that occurs in the context of advanced cirrhosis and portal hypertension, is associated with particularly high mortality. The pathogenesis of HRS-1 is largely viewed as a functional derangement that ultimately affects renal vasculature tone. However, new insights suggest that non-haemodynamic tubulo-toxic factors, such as endotoxins and bile acids, might mediate parenchymal renal injury in patients with cirrhosis, suggesting that concurrent mechanisms, including those traditionally associated with HRS-1 and non-traditional factors, might contribute to the development of AKI in patients with cirrhosis. Moreover, histological evidence of morphological abnormalities in the kidneys of patients with cirrhosis and renal dysfunction has prompted the functional nature of HRS-1 to be re-examined. From a clinical perspective, a diagnosis of HRS-1 guides utilization of vasoconstrictive therapy and decisions regarding renal replacement therapy. Patients with cirrhosis are at risk of AKI owing to a wide range of factors. However, the tools currently available to ascertain the diagnosis of HRS-1 and guide therapy are suboptimal. Short of liver transplantation, goal-directed haemodynamically targeted pharmacotherapy remains the cornerstone of treatment for this condition; improved understanding of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms might lead to better clinical outcomes. Here, we examine our current understanding of the pathophysiology of HRS-1 and existing challenges in its diagnosis and treatment.

A clinical risk prediction model to identify patients with hepatorenal syndrome at hospital admission

BACKGROUND

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a life-threatening complication of cirrhosis and early detection of evolving HRS may provide opportunities for early intervention. We developed a HRS risk model to assist early recognition of inpatient HRS.

METHODS

We analysed a retrospective cohort of patients hospitalised from among 122 medical centres in the US Department of Veterans Affairs between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2013. We included cirrhotic patients who had Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria based acute kidney injury on admission. We developed a logistic regression risk prediction model to detect HRS on admission using 10 variables. We calculated 95% confidence intervals on the model building dataset and, subsequently, calculated performance on a 1000 sample holdout test set. We report model performance with area under the curve (AUC) for discrimination and several calibration measures.

RESULTS

The cohort included 19 368 patients comprising 32 047 inpatient admissions. The event rate for hospitalised HRS was 2810/31 047 (9.1%) and 79/1000 (7.9%) in the model building and validation datasets, respectively. The variable selection procedure designed a parsimonious model involving ten predictor variables. Final model performance in the validation dataset had an AUC of 0.87, Brier score of 0.05, slope of 1.10 and intercept of 0.04.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a probabilistic risk model to diagnose HRS within 24 hours of hospital admission using routine clinical variables in the largest ever published HRS cohort. The performance was excellent and this model may help identify high-risk patients for HRS and promote early intervention.

Treatment for hepatorenal syndrome in people with decompensated liver cirrhosis: a network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Hepatorenal syndrome is defined as renal failure in people with cirrhosis in the absence of other causes. In addition to supportive treatment such as albumin to restore fluid balance, the other potential treatments include systemic vasoconstrictor drugs (such as vasopressin analogues or noradrenaline), renal vasodilator drugs (such as dopamine), transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), and liver support with molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS). There is uncertainty over the best treatment regimen for hepatorenal syndrome.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the benefits and harms of different treatments for hepatorenal syndrome in people with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, Science Citation Index Expanded, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and trial registers until December 2018 to identify randomised clinical trials on hepatorenal syndrome in people with cirrhosis.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included only randomised clinical trials (irrespective of language, blinding, or publication status) in adults with cirrhosis and hepatorenal syndrome. We excluded randomised clinical trials in which participants had previously undergone liver transplantation.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently identified eligible trials and collected data. The outcomes for this review included mortality, serious adverse events, any adverse events, resolution of hepatorenal syndrome, liver transplantation, and other decompensation events. We performed a network meta-analysis with OpenBUGS using Bayesian methods and calculated the odds ratio (OR), rate ratio, hazard ratio (HR), and mean difference (MD) with 95% credible intervals (CrI) based on an available-case analysis, according to National Institute of Health and Care Excellence Decision Support Unit guidance.

MAIN RESULTS

We included a total of 25 trials (1263 participants; 12 interventions) in the review. Twenty-three trials (1185 participants) were included in one or more outcomes. All the trials were at high risk of bias, and all the evidence was of low or very low certainty. The trials included participants with liver cirrhosis of varied aetiologies as well as a mixture of type I hepatorenal syndrome only, type II hepatorenal syndrome only, or people with both type I and type II hepatorenal syndrome. Participant age ranged from 42 to 60 years, and the proportion of females ranged from 5.8% to 61.5% in the trials that reported this information. The follow-up in the trials ranged from one week to six months. Overall, 59% of participants died during this period and about 35% of participants recovered from hepatorenal syndrome. The most common interventions compared were albumin plus terlipressin, albumin plus noradrenaline, and albumin alone.There was no evidence of a difference in mortality (22 trials; 1153 participants) at maximal follow-up between the different interventions. None of the trials reported health-related quality of life. There was no evidence of differences in the proportion of people with serious adverse events (three trials; 428 participants), number of participants with serious adverse events per participant (two trials; 166 participants), proportion of participants with any adverse events (four trials; 402 participants), the proportion of people who underwent liver transplantation at maximal follow-up (four trials; 342 participants), or other features of decompensation at maximal follow-up (one trial; 466 participants). Five trials (293 participants) reported number of any adverse events, and five trials (219 participants) reported treatment costs. Albumin plus noradrenaline had fewer numbers of adverse events per participant (rate ratio 0.51, 95% CrI 0.28 to 0.87). Eighteen trials (1047 participants) reported recovery from hepatorenal syndrome (as per definition of hepatorenal syndrome). In terms of recovery from hepatorenal syndrome, in the direct comparisons, albumin plus midodrine plus octreotide and albumin plus octreotide had lower recovery from hepatorenal syndrome than albumin plus terlipressin (HR 0.04; 95% CrI 0.00 to 0.25 and HR 0.26, 95% CrI 0.07 to 0.80 respectively). There was no evidence of differences between the groups in any of the other direct comparisons. In the network meta-analysis, albumin and albumin plus midodrine plus octreotide had lower recovery from hepatorenal syndrome compared with albumin plus terlipressin.

FUNDING

two trials were funded by pharmaceutical companies; five trials were funded by parties who had no vested interest in the results of the trial; and 18 trials did not report the source of funding.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Based on very low-certainty evidence, there is no evidence of benefit or harm of any of the interventions for hepatorenal syndrome with regards to the following outcomes: all-cause mortality, serious adverse events (proportion), number of serious adverse events per participant, any adverse events (proportion), liver transplantation, or other decompensation events. Low-certainty evidence suggests that albumin plus noradrenaline had fewer 'any adverse events per participant' than albumin plus terlipressin. Low- or very low-certainty evidence also found that albumin plus midodrine plus octreotide and albumin alone had lower recovery from hepatorenal syndrome compared with albumin plus terlipressin.Future randomised clinical trials should be adequately powered; employ blinding, avoid post-randomisation dropouts or planned cross-overs (or perform an intention-to-treat analysis); and report clinically important outcomes such as mortality, health-related quality of life, adverse events, and recovery from hepatorenal syndrome. Albumin plus noradrenaline and albumin plus terlipressin appear to be the interventions that should be compared in future trials.

Terlipressin for the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome: an overview of current evidence

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a serious complication of liver cirrhosis, which is of pre-renal origin due to central volume depletion together with cardiac dysfunction and characterized by oliguria with severe urinary sodium retention and elevated serum creatinine levels. HRS is divided into HRS I, which is rapidly progressive and mostly seen in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, and HRS II, which progresses more slowly and is always accompanied by gross ascites. Liver transplantation is the best choice of treatment for HRS but rarely available. Current mainstay pharmacological therapies are vasoconstrictors, such as terlipressin, noradrenaline and dopamine, in combination with albumin. This paper aims to overview the current evidence regarding outcomes of terlipressin for the treatment of HRS.

Terlipressin and albumin combination treatment in patients with hepatorenal syndrome type 2

Background

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is associated with a poor prognosis. In HRS type 1, loss of renal function is rapidly progressive, while HRS type 2 is characterised by chronic ascites and more moderately elevated renal parameters. While treatment with terlipressin/albumin is well established in type 1, its effectiveness in chronic HRS is less clear.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of terlipressin/albumin treatment in patients with HRS type 2.

Methods

All patients with a first episode of HRS between April 2013 and February 2016 were included in this observational study. Relevant clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded and patients were followed.

Results

A total of 106 patients with HRS were included. With terlipressin therapy reversal of HRS types 1 and 2 was achieved in 48% and 46% of patients (p = 0.84) with relapse rates of 8% vs 50% (p = 0.001). Overall survival (OS) and survival free of liver transplantation (LTx) were similar in HRS types 1 and 2 (p = 0.69; p = 0.64). In multivariate analysis response to treatment was independently associated with better OS in HRS type 2, in addition to established risk factors such as lower Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, absence of hepatic encephalopathy and eligibility for LTx.

Conclusion

A terlipressin treatment course seems to be justified in selected patients with HRS type 2, especially in countries and settings with long transplant waiting lists. In addition treatment response might also help to identify HRS type 2 patients with a more favourable outcome.

High versus low mean arterial pressures in hepatorenal syndrome: A randomized controlled pilot trial

There is controversy regarding the mean arterial pressure (MAP) goals that should be targeted in the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS.) We conducted a study to assess different MAP targets in HRS in the intensive care unit (ICU).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a prospective randomized controlled pilot trial. ICU patients had target mean arterial pressure (MAP) ≥ 85 mmHg (control arm) or 65-70 mmHg (study arm). Urine output and serum creatinine were trended and recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 18 patients were enrolled. The day four urine output in the high and low MAP group was 1194 (SD = 1249) mL/24 h and 920 (SD = 812) mL/24 h, respectively. The difference in day four - day one urine output was -689 (SD = 1684) mL/24 h and 272 (SD = 582) mL/24 h for the high and low MAP groups. The difference in serum creatinine at day four - day one was -0.54 (SD = 0.63) mg/dL and - 0.77 (SD = 1.14) mg/dL in the high and low MAP groups, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we failed to prove non-inferiority between a low and high target MAP in patients with HRS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was registered with and approved by the University of Louisville Internal Review Board and hospital research review committees (IRB # 14.1190). The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (ID # NCT02789150). The IRB committee roster 7/21/2014-2/26/2015 is registered with IORG (IORG # IORG0000147; OMB # 0990-0279) and is available at http://louisville.edu/research/humansubjects/about-the-irb/rosters/RosterEffective20140721thru20150226.pdf.

Validation of International Club of Ascites subclassification of stage 1 acute kidney injury in chronic liver disease

Background and Aim

Acute kidney injury (AKI) commonly occurs in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). As per the International Club of Ascites, AKI is classified into three stages; stage 1 has recently been divided into subgroups 1A and 1B. We performed a prospective study to validate the association between subgrouping and outcome.

Methods

This study was conducted using decompensated cirrhosis (DC) patients hospitalized in the Gastroenterology ward between August 2016 and May 2018. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were compared between AKI 1A and AKI 1B patients. The duration of hospitalization and outcome were compared.

Results

A total of 528 subjects were enrolled; 296 (56.1%) had AKI, and of them, 61.48% (n = 182) had stage 1, 20.95% (n = 62) had stage 2, and 17.57% (n = 52) had stage 3 AKI. Of the enrolled patients, 100 (54.94%) had early (AKI 1A) and 82 (45.06%) had late stage 1 AKI (AKI 1B). Patients with AKI 1B had higher total leucocyte count, total bilirubin, serum urea, serum creatinine (SCr), model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD), MELD‐Na⁺, and child‐turcotte‐pugh (CTP) score and decreased serum albumin than AKI 1A. The prevalence of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) were higher in AKI 1B patients, and they had a prolonged hospital stay compared to AKI 1A patients. Furthermore, AKI 1B patients had significantly lower survival both at 28 days and 90 days.

Conclusion

Our study validates the subclassification of stage 1 AKI. Patients with AKI 1B more often progress to higher AKI stages with significantly lower 28‐day and 90‐day survival rates. Results justify subclassification and suggest the need for early intervention. The small increase in SCr should be viewed with caution in AKI stage 1A.

Current evidence regarding terlipressin for treatment of hepatorenal syndrome

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a serious complication of liver cirrhosis, which is characterized by oliguria, severe urinary sodium retention, and elevated serum creatinine levels. Liver transplantation is the best choice of therapy, but is rarely available. Current mainstay pharmacological therapy is vasoconstrictors with albumin. Terlipressin is a synthetic analog of vasopressin, and it has been used for the treatment of HRS. This article reviews the current status regarding terlipressin in the management of HRS from the perspective of evidence-based medicine.

Noradrenaline for reverting hepatorenal syndrome: a prospective, observational, single-center study

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of noradrenaline for the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS).

Background

HRS represents the development of renal failure in cirrhotic patients. The standard treatment for HRS is terlipressin, which, as opposed to noradrenaline, is more expensive and less accessible in most tertiary care centers.

Patients and methods

Thirty consecutive patients with HRS type 1 received noradrenaline (1–4.0 mg/hour) and albumin for 14 days. The parameters recorded were: serum creatinine levels, creatinine clearance, mean arterial pressure (MAP), urine output, and serum sodium levels evaluated at baseline and on treatment days 1, 3, 7, and 14.

Results

Most patients achieved serum creatinine levels <1.5 mg/dL and were considered responders (22/30, 73%), whereas eight patients (27%) were nonresponders. At baseline, responders and nonresponders differed only regarding initial bilirubin levels and international normalized ratio values. Treatment duration was 7.5±3.2 days. Responders experienced a significant (p<0.05) decrease in serum creatinine levels (from 3.26±0.48 to 1.28±0.14 mg/dL), as well as a significant increase (p<0.05) in creatinine clearance (from 21±4.1 to 67.7±12.1 mL/min), urine output (from 583±41.1 to 1163±105 mL/day), MAP (from 79.2±2.94 to 93.9±2.34 mmHg), and serum sodium levels (from 125±2.01 to 132.3±1.39 mEq/L). In nonresponders, the MAP increased, but serum creatinine levels also increased, reflecting a decrease in creatinine clearance and urine output, with no significant change in serum sodium levels over the duration of the treatment.

Conclusion

In most patients, noradrenaline treatment induced systemic vasoconstriction resulting in HRS reversal, with acceptable safety, in agreement with previously reported outcomes of terlipressin treatment.

Noradrenaline versus terlipressin in the management of type 1 hepatorenal syndrome: A randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) occurs in decompensated liver disease and carries high mortality. Vasoconstrictors are the drug of choice. Terlipressin is widely used and is expensive. In this study, we compared noradrenaline and terlipressin in the management of type 1 HRS.

METHODS

Sixty consecutive patients with type 1 HRS were managed with noradrenaline (Group A, n = 30) or terlipressin (Group B, n = 30) with albumin in a randomized controlled trial at a tertiary center.

RESULTS

Reversal of type 1 HRS was achieved in 16 (53%) patients in group A and 17 (57%) in group B. There was statistically insignificant difference between the two groups in decreasing serum creatinine and increasing urine output (p > 0.05). On univariate analysis, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, serum sodium, serum urea, serum albumin, prothrombin time, International normalized ratio (INR), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), ascitic fluid protein, and history of bleeding were associated with response to treatment (noradrenaline/terlipressin). However, on multivariate analysis, only baseline CTP score, serum urea, serum albumin, and prothrombin time were independent predictors of response. All patients who responded were discharged alive with no mortality within 30 days.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no difference in outcome of patients with type 1 HRS treated with noradrenaline or terlipressin. Thus, noradrenaline, which is cheaper, can be used instead of terlipressin (Clinical Trials Registry-India [CTRI] No. CTRI/2011/09/002032).

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BRAZILIAN SOCIETY OF HEPATOLOGY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS

ABSTRACT Acute kidney injury is a common complication of cirrhosis, occurring in up to 20% of patients hospitalized with cirrhosis. This field is rapidly changing, with significant advances in classification, biomarkers and therapy over the last few years. On the behalf of the Brazilian Society of Hepatology, a panel of experts in Hepatology and Nephrology reviewed published evidence to integrate findings and develop the recommendations presented in this manuscript.

Terlipressin in the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Hepatorenal syndrome is a fatal complication of advanced cirrhosis. Terlipressin is the most widely used treatment method, however, the therapy effects remain inconsonant. We aim to systematically assess the safety and efficacy of terlipressin for hepatorenal syndrome.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials involving terlipressin for hepatorenal syndrome were included in a systematic literature search. Two authors independently assessed the studies for inclusion and extracted the data. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the safety and efficacy of terlipressin for hepatorenal syndrome.

RESULTS

A total of 18 randomized controlled trials including 1011 patients were included. Hepatorenal syndrome reverse rate was 42.0% in the terlipressin group and 26.2% in the non-terlipressin group. Terlipressin had greater hepatorenal syndrome reverse rate and renal function improvement rate than placebo and octreotide in the management of HRS. Comparing to norepinephrine, terlipressin had similar efficacy, but with more adverse events. No significant difference of the efficacy was found between terlipressin and dopamine treatment. The subgroup analysis for type 1 HRS had the above same results, except that the adverse events were not significant different between norepinephrine group and terlipressin group.

CONCLUSIONS

Terlipressin was superior to placebo and octreotide for reversal of hepatorenal syndrome and improving renal function, but it had no superiority comparing to norepinephrine.

Pharmacological Therapies for Hepatorenal Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a serious complication of advanced chronic liver disease. Different pharmacological therapies have variable efficacy. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of various drugs in the treatment of HRS.

STUDY

Randomized controlled trials comparing active drug with placebo or comparing 2 different drugs were included in this analysis. Primary study outcome was reversal of HRS. Secondary outcomes were HRS relapse and patient survival. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients with type 1 HRS.

RESULTS

Thirteen randomized controlled trial were eligible for analysis. Terlipressin plus albumin was more efficacious than placebo plus albumin (odds ratio=4.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.72-12.93; P=0.003) or midodrine plus albumin and octreotide (odds ratio=5.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.69-20.85; P=0.005), for HRS reversal. However, no significant difference was noted comparing terlipressin plus albumin versus noradrenaline plus albumin, octreotide plus albumin versus placebo plus albumin or noradrenaline plus albumin versus midodrine plus albumin and octreotide. None of the comparisons showed difference on HRS relapse or patient survival. Subgroup analysis revealed that terlipressin was more effective than placebo for type 1 HRS reversal, but no significant differences were noted between any other comparisons, and none of the comparisons showed difference on HRS relapse or patient survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravenous infusion of terlipressin is the most effective medical therapy for reversing HRS. Intravenous infusion of noradrenaline is an acceptable alternative. Studies are needed as basis for developing pharmacological strategies to reduce relapse of HRS and improve patient survival.

Development of an automated phenotyping algorithm for hepatorenal syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Hepatorenal Syndrome (HRS) is a devastating form of acute kidney injury (AKI) in advanced liver disease patients with high morbidity and mortality, but phenotyping algorithms have not yet been developed using large electronic health record (EHR) databases. We evaluated and compared multiple phenotyping methods to achieve an accurate algorithm for HRS identification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A national retrospective cohort of patients with cirrhosis and AKI admitted to 124 Veterans Affairs hospitals was assembled from electronic health record data collected from 2005 to 2013. AKI was defined by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria. Five hundred and four hospitalizations were selected for manual chart review and served as the gold standard. Electronic Health Record based predictors were identified using structured and free text clinical data, subjected through NLP from the clinical Text Analysis Knowledge Extraction System. We explored several dimension reduction techniques for the NLP data, including newer high-throughput phenotyping and word embedding methods, and ascertained their effectiveness in identifying the phenotype without structured predictor variables. With the combined structured and NLP variables, we analyzed five phenotyping algorithms: penalized logistic regression, naïve Bayes, support vector machines, random forest, and gradient boosting. Calibration and discrimination metrics were calculated using 100 bootstrap iterations. In the final model, we report odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the different models ranged from 0.73 to 0.93; with penalized logistic regression having the best discriminatory performance. Calibration for logistic regression was modest, but gradient boosting and support vector machines were superior. NLP identified 6985 variables; a priori variable selection performed similarly to dimensionality reduction using high-throughput phenotyping and semantic similarity informed clustering (AUC of 0.81 - 0.82).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated improved phenotyping of a challenging AKI etiology, HRS, over ICD-9 coding. We also compared performance among multiple approaches to EHR-derived phenotyping, and found similar results between methods. Lastly, we showed that automated NLP dimension reduction is viable for acute illness.

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.

Hepatorenal syndrome: the clinical impact of vasoactive therapy

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a unique form of acute kidney injury seen in cirrhotic patients and associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Despite its impact, diagnosis and treatment of HRS remains challenging and this review aims to assess and compare the available vasoconstrictors used as first-line treatment for HRS. Areas covered: A literature review was undertaken on the use of vasoconstrictors in HRS, using PubMed/Medline database searches of: 'hepatorenal syndrome', 'HRS' and 'vasoconstrictor'. Expert commentary: Current diagnosis criteria are based on an exclusion-based approach using serum creatinine as a biomarker. However, this method relies on the measurement over a sustained period of time resulting in delayed treatment. Using urine biomarkers, the revised acute kidney injury guidelines and novel plasma expanders may improve diagnosis and the implementation of time-sensitive management of HRS. Vasoconstrictors are the first-line treatment for HRS, in which terlipressin is the vasoconstrictor of choice supported by current guidelines and a substantial clinical evidence base over other vasoconstrictors, such as noradrenaline or midodrine plus octreotide. Future developments in dosage and administrative techniques for terlipressin may have an important role to play in maintaining clinical efficacy whilst improving tolerability in the management of HRS.

New Developments in Hepatorenal Syndrome

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) continues to be one of the major complications of decompensated cirrhosis, leading to death in the absence of liver transplantation. Challenges in precisely evaluating renal function in the patient with cirrhosis remain because of the limitations of serum creatinine (Cr) alone in estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR); current GFR estimating models appear to underestimate renal dysfunction. Newer models incorporating renal biomarkers, such as the Cr-Cystatin C GFR Equation for Cirrhosis appear to estimate measured GFR more accurately. A major change in the diagnostic criteria for HRS based on dynamic serial changes in serum Cr that regard HRS type 1 as a special form of acute kidney injury promises the possibility of earlier identification of renal dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis. The diagnostic criteria of HRS still include the exclusion of other causes of kidney injury. Renal biomarkers have been disappointing in assisting with the differentiation of HRS from prerenal azotemia and other kidney disorders. Serum metabolomic profiling may be a more powerful tool to assess renal dysfunction, although the practical clinical significance of this remains unclear. As a result of the difficulties of assessing renal function in cirrhosis and the varying HRS diagnostic criteria and the rigor with which they are applied, the precise incidence and prevalence of HRS is unknown, but it is likely that HRS occurs more commonly than expected. The pathophysiology of HRS is rooted firmly in the setting of progressive reduction in renal blood flow as a result of portal hypertension and splanchnic vasodilation. Progressive marked renal cortical ischemia in patients with cirrhosis parallels the evolution of diuretic-sensitive ascites to diuretic-refractory ascites and HRS, a recognized continuum of renal dysfunction in cirrhosis. Alterations in nitrous oxide production, both increased and decreased, may play a major role in the pathophysiology of this evolution. The inflammatory cascade, triggered by bacterial translocation and endotoxemia, increasingly recognized as important in the manifestation of acute-on-chronic liver failure, also may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of HRS. The mainstay of treatment remains vasopressor therapy with albumin in an attempt to reverse splanchnic vasodilation and improve renal blood flow. Several meta-analyses have confirmed the value of vasopressors, chiefly terlipressin and noradrenaline, in improving renal function and reversing HRS type 1. Other interventions such as renal replacement therapy, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, and artificial liver support systems have a very limited role in improving outcomes in HRS. Liver transplantation remains the definitive treatment for HRS. The frequency of simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation has increased dramatically in the Model for End-stage Liver Disease era, with changes in organ allocation policies. This has resulted in a more urgent need to predict native kidney recovery from HRS after liver transplantation alone, to avoid unnecessary simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation.

Vasoactive Agents for Hepatorenal Syndrome: A Mixed Treatment Comparison Network Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

BACKGROUND

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a common complication among patients with cirrhosis, primarily attributable to vasodilation of renal vessels. Vasoactive agents are commonly used to treat HRS. The present network meta-analysis compares the vasoactive agents used in HRS.

METHODS

We searched electronic databases for appropriate randomized controlled clinical trials in patients with HRS, comparing active interventions with either placebo or standard of care. The primary outcome was complete HRS reversal; secondary outcomes included partial HRS reversal, mortality, adverse events, and cardiovascular adverse events. The data were pooled using a random effects model. We also carried out direct comparisons for the primary outcome with trial sequential analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 16 studies were included in the systematic review. Rates of complete HRS reversal were significantly higher with terlipressin and noradrenaline combined with albumin than with placebo (OR 6.65, 95% CI: 2.08-21.31 and 6.81, 95% CI: 1.87-24.83, respectively). No significant differences were observed in terms of mortality, partial HRS reversal, or adverse events for any of the interventions. However, cardiovascular adverse events were significantly higher with continuous-infusion terlipressin/albumin (OR 7.07, 95% CI: 1.23-40.62), bolus terlipressin/albumin (OR 7.39, 95% CI: 1.89, 28.94), octreotide/midodrine/albumin (OR 9.85, 95% CI: 1.1, 88.1), and noradrenaline/albumin (OR 15.24, 95% CI: 2.1, 112.6) than with albumin alone. Trial sequential analyses revealed adequate evidence to conclude that terlipressin combined with albumin was effective in achieving complete HRS reversal.

DISCUSSION

Terlipressin combined with albumin shows strong evidence of improving short-term survival in patients with type 1 but not type 2 HRS. Through indirect comparison, noradrenaline with albumin was also associated with significant benefits in terms of HRS reversal.