Predictors of the Effect of Tolvaptan on the Prognosis of Cirrhosis

Prediction factors of tolvaptan effectiveness in patients with refractory ascites complicated with hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Tolvaptan (TVP) is an effective treatment for patients with cirrhotic ascites; however, studies have indicated that a sufficient effect is difficult to obtain in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study evaluates the efficacy of TVP in patients with HCC with refractory ascites.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 32 patients with liver cirrhosis and refractory ascites [mean age: 74 years (range, 47-86 years), men: 78.1% (25/32)]. All patients had HCC and were treated with TVP at our hospital. A TVP responder was defined as a patient who experienced decrease in body weight by ≥1.5 kg within 1 week of treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate clinical and laboratory predictive factors of TVP response.

RESULTS

The TVP response rate was 46.9% (15/32 patients) after 1 week of treatment. HCC treatment (transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and/or radiofrequency ablation) was administered to 11/15 (73.3%) responders. In the multivariate analysis, the reduction of urine osmolality was higher in responders than nonresponders (202 mOsm/l vs. 65 mOsm/l, P = 0.040), and the tumor stage (P = 0.043) was worse in nonresponders. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated a significantly better prognosis among responders than among nonresponders (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The HCC tumor stage and the reduction in urine osmolality can predict the efficacy of TVP in patients with refractory ascites complicated with HCC. TVP may allow therapeutic intervention for HCC and improve prognosis, even in patients with Child-Pugh class C.

Plasma Renin Activity Predicts Prognosis and Liver Disease-Related Events in Liver Cirrhosis Patients with Ascites Treated by Tolvaptan

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

A retrospective study was to analyze the association of plasma renin activity (PRA) with overall survival and liver disease-related events in decompensated liver cirrhosis with ascites treated by tolvaptan.

METHODS

We included 196 patients with decompensated cirrhosis treated with tolvaptan and for whom hepatic ascites had remained uncontrolled by conventional diuretics. Factors associated with prognosis and appearance of liver disease-related events were investigated, including vasopressin, sympathetic nervous system hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine), and the renin-angiotensin system (PRA and aldosterone) at the beginning of tolvaptan treatment.

RESULTS

Age, history of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and PRA were identified as independent factors for prognosis after tolvaptan treatment. The median survival time in patients with PRA ≥9.5 ng/mL/h at the beginning of tolvaptan treatment was significantly shorter than in patients with PRA <9.5 ng/mL/h (193 vs. 893 days, p < 0.001). PRA and a history of HCC were independent factors for the occurrence of liver disease-related events. The median event-free period in patients with PRA ≥3.2 ng/mL/h was significantly shorter than that of patients with PRA <3.2 ng/mL/h (89 vs. 222 days, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PRA is an independent predictor of prognosis and appearance of liver disease-related events in patients with decompensated cirrhosis who have started tolvaptan treatment.

Management of Cirrhotic Ascites under the Add-on Administration of Tolvaptan

Tolvaptan is a recently available diuretic that blocks arginine vasopressin receptor 2 in the renal collecting duct. Its diuretic mechanism involves selective water reabsorption by affecting the water reabsorption receptor aquaporin 2. Given that liver cirrhosis patients exhibit hyponatremia due to their pseudo-aldosteronism and usage of natriuretic agents, a sodium maintaining agent, such as tolvaptan, is physiologically preferable. However, large scale studies indicating the patients for whom this would be effective and describing management under its use have been insufficient. The appropriate management of cirrhosis patients treated with tolvaptan should be investigated. In the present review, we collected articles investigating the effectiveness of tolvaptan and factors associated with survival and summarized their management reports. Earlier administration of tolvaptan before increasing the doses of natriuretic agents is recommended because this may preserve effective arterial blood volume.

High expression of a vascular stricture-related marker is predictive of an early response to tolvaptan, and a low fractional excretion of sodium is predictive of a poor long-term survival after tolvaptan administration for liver cirrhosis

AIM

Tolvaptan is a newly available diuretic that has a specific function in water reabsorption inhibition. Given that spironolactone or furosemide induces the aggravation of cirrhotic hyponatremia and dehydration, tolvaptan affects the management strategy of liver cirrhosis. Representative predictive markers of its response include renal function-related markers such as urea nitrogen or creatinine. However, vascular function-related markers have not been well investigated. We investigated the effect of the vascular function-related marker asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and the effective arterial blood volume (EABV) marker, fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), on the early tolvaptan response and survival in liver cirrhosis.

METHODS

We prospectively recruited 49 patients who required add-on tolvaptan for refractory ascites or edema. Laboratory data were obtained immediately before and 1 day after tolvaptan administration. Patients exhibiting >1.5 kg weight loss after 1 week were categorized as early responders to tolvaptan. Patients were followed for a median of 200 days and were assessed for survival.

RESULTS

Early responders showed lower creatinine levels (<1.0 mg/dL), and higher ADMA levels (≥0.61 nmol/mL) than others in a multivariate analysis. Patients with a shorter survival were positive for hepatocellular carcinoma and had a low FENa (<0.35%).

CONCLUSION

Early responders showed higher ADMA levels reflecting vascular stricture, suggesting that higher vascular tonus is required for a tolvaptan early response. Patients with a shorter survival showed a lower FENa, reflecting a lower EABV and suggesting that adequate EABV is required for the prolonged survival after tolvaptan administration.

Durable response without recurrence to Tolvaptan improves long-term survival

BACKGROUND

Decompensated liver cirrhosis patients with refractory ascites or pleural effusion have a poor prognosis. Tolvaptan has been used for treating water retention associated with cirrhosis. However, despite the short-term response, water retention recurrence is still observed in some cases. This study aimed to clarify the water retention recurrence rate and the relationship between long-term response without recurrence and prognosis.

METHODS

Altogether, 100 patients with decompensated cirrhosis treated with tolvaptan were retrospectively analyzed. Recurrence was evaluated according to the criteria of the EASL clinical practice guideline. The recurrence rate and prognosis of non-responders, patients with recurrence, and long-term responders were analyzed. The baseline factors related to short-term response, recurrence, and long-term response were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Approximately 31.0% of the short-term responders had recurrence. Although there was no significant difference in the prognosis by short-term response (p = 0.07), the long-term responders had a significantly better prognosis than those with recurrence and non-responders (p < 0.01). Low CRP levels and high urinary Na/K ratios were significant factors related to short-term response, and the presence of acute kidney injury was also a factor related to non-response. The low CRP level (relapse: < 1.10 mg/dl, long-term response: < 0.94 mg/dl) was identified as a factor related to recurrence and long-term response.

CONCLUSION

The long-term responders without recurrence had a significantly better prognosis. CRP was a useful predictor for long-term response, whereas renal function parameters were useful predictors for short-term response. Inflammation control may be important for long-term response and prognosis in cirrhosis patients with water retention.

Tolvaptan therapy of Chinese cirrhotic patients with ascites after insufficient diuretic routine medication responses: a phase III clinical trial

BACKGROUND

To determine the safety and efficacy of different doses of tolvaptan for treating Chinese cirrhotic patients with or without hyponatraemia who still had ascites after routine therapy with diuretics.

METHODS

In the present placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded, multicentre clinical trial, patients with cirrhotic ascites who failed to adequately respond to a combination of an aldosterone antagonist plus an orally administered loop diuretic were randomly placed at a 4:2:1 ratio into 3 groups [the 15 mg/day tolvaptan group (N = 301), 7.5 mg/day tolvaptan group (N = 153) and placebo group (N = 76)] for 7 days of treatment. The effects and safety were evaluated on days 4 and 7. A change in body weight from baseline on day 7 of treatment was the primary endpoint.

RESULTS

The administration of 7.5 or 15 mg/day tolvaptan significantly decreased body weight from baseline on day 7 of treatment compared to that with placebo treatment (P = 0.026; P = 0.001). For the secondary endpoints, changes in abdominal circumference from baseline and improvements in ascites were markedly different in the treatment groups and the placebo group on day 7 (P_7.5 = 0.05, P_15.0 = 0.002 and P_7.5 = 0.037, P_15.0 = 0.003), but there was no difference between the 7.5 mg/day and 15 mg/day dosage groups. The 24-h cumulative urine volume was higher in the 7.5 mg/day and 15 mg/day tolvaptan groups than the placebo group (P = 0.002, P < 0.001) and was greater in the 15 mg/day tolvaptan group than the 7.5 mg/day tolvaptan group (P = 0.004). Sodium serum concentrations were higher in patients with hyponatraemia after tolvaptan treatment, with no significant difference between the two dosage groups. The incidence of serious adverse drug reactions was not different between the groups (P = 0.543).

CONCLUSIONS

Tolvaptan treatment at 7.5 mg per day might be a good therapeutic choice for Chinese cirrhotic patients with ascites who did not achieve satisfactory clinical responses to previous treatment regimens with combination therapy with an aldosterone antagonist and an orally administered loop diuretic.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01349348. Retrospectively registered May 2011.

Predictors of tolvaptan short-term response in patients with refractory ascites: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Tolvaptan represents an oral V₂ -receptor antagonist, which has been suggested as a promising add-on diuretic treatment for refractory ascites. The present meta-analysis aims to accumulate current evidence and identify which clinical and laboratory factors are linked to short-term response to tolvaptan therapy.

METHODS

Medline, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception. All observational studies reporting the correlation of patients' characteristics with tolvaptan response were selected.

RESULTS

Tolvaptan response was associated with significantly higher baseline body weight (mean difference: 4.59 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [3.58, 5.61]), presence of hepatitis C (odds ratio: 1.59 95% CI: [1.18, 2.14]), lower blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (mean difference: -6.88 mg/dL, 95% CI: [-8.13, -5.63]), lower serum creatinine (mean difference: -0.17 mg/dL, 95% CI: [-0.30, -0.05]), lower C-reactive protein (mean difference: -1.43 mg/dL, 95% CI: [-2.52, -0.35]), and higher sodium levels (mean difference: 1.00 mEq/L, 95% CI: [0.45, 1.55]). The outcomes of bodyweight, hepatitis C, BUN, and C-reactive protein remain significant independently of response definition and risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings suggest bodyweight, BUN, C-reactive protein, and hepatitis C as potential predictive factors of tolvaptan short-term response in patients with refractory ascites. Future studies are needed to introduce cut-off values and construct an optimal combined screening model.

Management of refractory ascites attenuates muscle mass reduction and improves survival in patients with decompensated cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

This study investigated time-course changes in skeletal muscle volume per year with tolvaptan in patients with refractory ascites that was unresponsive to loop diuretics and aldosterone antagonists.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 42 patients who received tolvaptan for refractory ascites and/or hepatic edema and underwent computed tomography (CT) before and ≥ 3 months after initiating tolvaptan. The time-course changes in skeletal muscle index per year [ΔSMI (%)] was calculated as follows: ΔSMI (%) = (SMI at final CT scan - SMI at initial CT scan)/SMI at initial CT scan × 100/years between CT scans.

RESULTS

Eligible patients were 23 men and 19 women of median age of 71 years (range 21-94 years). The median follow-up period was 22.7 (range 3.5-54.6) months. ΔSMI (%) was significantly higher in the responders group than in the nonresponder group. Multivariate analysis showed the response to tolvaptan was an independent and significant factor associated with an increase in muscle mass [odds ratio (OR) 20.364; 95% CI 2.327-178.97; P = 0.006]. Overall survival with tolvaptan was significantly higher in the responder group than in the nonresponder group. Multivariate analysis showed that the response to tolvaptan treatment was a significant contributor to good prognosis (OR 3.884; 95% CI 1.264-11.931; P = 0.018). A significant negative correlation was observed between the dosage of furosemide and ΔSMI (%) (P = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of refractory ascites with tolvaptan may attenuate the progression of sarcopenia and improve the prognosis in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Analysis of tolvaptan non-responders and outcomes of tolvaptan treatment of ascites

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The goals of the study were to identify an effective treatment for ascites and to examine the influence of tolvaptan on outcomes by investigating non-responders to tolvaptan and comparing outcomes of hepatic cirrhosis in patients treated with and without tolvaptan.

METHODS

In Study 1, of 145 patients with hepatic cirrhosis who were treated with tolvaptan between September 2013 and March 2018, 45 who did not achieve weight loss of ≥1.5 kg within one week were investigated. In Study 2, 83 patients who received tolvaptan for ascites between September 2013 and March 2017 were compared with 131 patients who were treated for ascites without use of tolvaptan between January 2006 and January 2012.

RESULTS

In Study 1, the 45 patients were divided into three groups based on changes in dosing of diuretics. Renal function was retained in the dose reduction group compared with that in the other groups, and the rate of discharge with remission and the outcomes were also favorable in patients with dose reduction. In Study 2, survival was significantly more favorable in patients treated with tolvaptan.

CONCLUSIONS

Dose reduction of diuretics may be effective for patients with reduced renal function for whom tolvaptan is ineffective or the effect is insufficient and may also improve outcomes of patients with hepatic cirrhosis by preventing a decline in renal function caused by an increased dose of diuretics.

Impact of serum albumin levels on the body fluid response to tolvaptan in chronic kidney disease patients

PURPOSE

Tolvaptan exerts an aquaretic effect by blocking vasopressin V2 receptor. Although tolvaptan ameliorates body fluid retention even in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), predictors of body fluid reduction induced by tolvaptan remain unclear. We, therefore, examined the clinical parameters associated with the effect of tolvaptan on fluid volume in CKD patients.

METHODS

Twelve CKD patients (stage 3-5) with fluid retention were treated with tolvaptan in addition to conventional diuretic treatment. Patients were divided into low and high responders by the median change in total body water (TBW) for 1 week measured by a bioimpedance analysis (BIA) device, and clinical parameters were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The body weight significantly decreased by 2.0 ± 2.3 kg (p = 0.005), but the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was not significantly changed (16.9 ± 11.9 vs. 17.4 ± 12.4 mL/min/1.73 m², p = 0.139) after 1 week. The BIA showed that the intracellular water (ICW) decreased by 6.0% ± 4.7% (p < 0.001), the extracellular water (ECW) decreased by 6.7% ± 5.4% (p = 0.001), and the TBW decreased by 6.3% ± 4.9% (median value - 6.02%, p < 0.001). The serum albumin level in the high responders was significantly lower than in the low responders (2.3 ± 0.5 vs. 3.3 ± 0.8 g/dL, p = 0.013). Significant partial correlations adjusted for the eGFR were observed between the baseline serum albumin level and changes in the ICW (r = 0.440, p = 0.048), ECW (r = 0.593, p = 0.009) and TBW (r = 0.520, p = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum albumin levels predict the body fluid response to tolvaptan in CKD patients. Tolvaptan may be a promising therapeutic option for ameliorating body fluid retention, especially in patients with hypoalbuminemia.

Impaired Renal Function May Not Negate the Efficacy of Tolvaptan in the Treatment of Cirrhotic Patients with Refractory Ascites

Background and Objective

Tolvaptan, an oral vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, has been widely used for the treatment of patients with cirrhosis and ascites. However, its efficacy in patients with renal dysfunction remains unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of tolvaptan in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and severe chronic kidney disease (s-CKD).

Methods

We studied 43 patients with liver cirrhosis who received tolvaptan (7.5 mg/day) for refractory ascites. s-CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 45 mL/min/1.73 m². Response to tolvaptan was defined as weight loss ≥ 1.5 kg in 7 days of treatment.

Results

Eighteen patients (42%) had s-CKD (s-CKD group), while the other 25 patients (58%) did not have s-CKD (n-CKD group). Rates of response to tolvaptan were similar: 68% in the n-CKD group and 56% in the s-CKD group. Urine volumes increased significantly from baseline to day 7 in both groups. Incidences of adverse events were also similar (P = 0.93). Mean eGFR did not decline even in the s-CKD group (27.3 ± 2.2 mL/min/1.73 m² at baseline vs. 26.6 ± 2.3 mL/min/1.73 m² on day 7; P = 0.9). The cumulative survival rate did not differ significantly between the n-CKD and s-CKD groups. In the s-CKD group, responders obtained a better prognosis than non-responders.

Conclusions

Tolvaptan significantly increased urine volumes similarly in patients with s-CKD and n-CKD without affecting renal function. As responders achieved a better prognosis, tolvaptan could be a good option to treat ascites in patients with cirrhosis and s-CKD.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s40261-018-0714-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Response criteria of tolvaptan for the treatment of hepatic edema

BACKGROUND

Although tolvaptan is an effective treatment for hepatic edema, there are no established criteria for assessment of the therapeutic effect. The present study evaluates the association between body weight change and clinical symptoms to identify an effective indicator of tolvaptan response.

METHODS

The study comprised 460 patients. The first data set contained 147 patients with hepatic edema who received tolvaptan in Kagoshima Kouseiren Hospital, a representative institution of this study. From these data, an optimal cutoff value of body weight change, which accurately indicated symptom reduction, was identified. The response rates obtained based on the cutoff value were evaluated by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and kappa coefficients. The kappa coefficient was then validated internally using the bootstrap method and externally using the validation data set of 313 patients from four other hospitals.

RESULTS

A cutoff value for body weight loss of 1.5 kg/week produced the largest area under the ROC curve (0.961; sensitivity, 89.8%; specificity, 92.0%) and a high kappa coefficient (0.831). The correlation between symptom reduction and body weight loss of 1.5 kg/week was evaluated internally and externally, and the cutoff value was validated.

CONCLUSIONS

The cutoff value of body weight change that most accurately reflected symptom reduction was 1.5 kg/week; this value is expected to be an effective indicator of response to tolvaptan in clinical practice.

Increased serum C-reactive protein and decreased urinary aquaporin 2 levels are predictive of the efficacy of tolvaptan in patients with liver cirrhosis

AIM

Water retention, hepatic ascites, and peripheral edema are significant problems in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). Although furosemide and spironolactone are commonly used as treatment, they are often insufficient to treat hyponatremia and renal insufficiency in patients with LC. Tolvaptan (TVP) could provide an effective treatment alternative. However, predictive factors of a therapeutic response to TVP are unclear. Our aim was to examine clinical predictors of the response to TVP in patients with LC and water retention.

METHODS

Fifty-two patients were treated with TVP, with therapeutic effects judged by a decrease in body weight (≥2 kg) and increase in urinary volume (≥500 mL) within 7 days. Blood biochemical tests were carried out at baseline and post-treatment, including serum soluble CD14 (sCD14) and urinary aquaporin 2 (AQP2) levels. Clinical and laboratory predictive factors of a TVP response were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The overall response to TVP was 55.8%. On univariate analyses, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, urinary blood urea nitrogen, and urinary AQP2 were predictors of the TVP response, with only serum CRP retained on multivariate analysis. A higher serum sCD14 level was strongly associated with a non-response to TVP. A decrease in urinary AQP2 to undetectable level was associated with a response.

CONCLUSION

Tolvaptan provides a rapid and strong effect to improve water retention in patients with LC. Baseline serum sCD14 and CRP levels are useful predictors of a response to TVP, with a decrease in urinary AQP2 during treatment indicating an early response.

Tolvaptan is effective in treating patients with refractory ascites due to cirrhosis

The treatment of refractory ascites due to cirrhosis is a clinical challenge for hepatologists. Tolvaptan, a novel aquaporin modulator, was made available in Japan in 2013 for the treatment of patients with refractory ascites due to cirrhosis. Despite the potential of this drug, few reports are available regarding its clinical use. The aim of the present study was to clarify the efficacy of tolvaptan in patients with refractory ascites due to cirrhosis and to review the clinical outcomes of treatment. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for 65 patients with refractory ascites due to cirrhosis who were treated daily with 7.5 mg tolvaptan. The median follow-up time, defined as the period between starting tolvaptan and the last clinic visit or date of mortality, was 175 days (interquartile range 56-406). After one week of tolvaptan treatment, the mean weight reduction was 3.4 kg, with a response rate of 69% (45/65). Subsequently, factors associated with the response to tolvaptan were analyzed. On univariate analysis, maintaining serum sodium (Na) ≥140 mEq/l and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥55 ml/min were significant predictors of response (P<0.05). On multivariate analysis, hepatitis C virus etiology, maintaining serum Na ≥140 mEq/l and an eGFR ≥55 ml/min were significant predictors of response (P<0.05). Factors associated with survival were also analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard model. On multivariate analysis, responsiveness to tolvaptan was a predictor of long-term survival (P=0.002), and hyperbilirubinemia was associated with short-term survival (P=0.028). Additionally, Kaplan-Meier analysis with a log-rank test indicated longer survival times in tolvaptan responders than non-responders (P=0.011). In conclusion, tolvaptan was effective in treating patients with refractory ascites due to cirrhosis. In particular, tolvaptan treatment was highly effective for patients with hepatitis C virus etiology and normal serum Na and renal function. Furthermore, response to tolvaptan was associated with longer survival time while hyperbilirubinemia was associated with shorter survival time.

Effectiveness and safety of tolvaptan in liver cirrhosis patients with edema: Interim results of post-marketing surveillance of tolvaptan in liver cirrhosis (START study)

AIM

Loop diuretics and spironolactone are used in patients with hepatic edema, but they are sometimes associated with insufficient responses as well as adverse events. Tolvaptan, a vasopressin type 2 receptor antagonist, was approved for hepatic edema in 2013. A large-scale post-marketing surveillance study has been carried out to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tolvaptan in real-world clinical settings.

METHODS

Patients with hepatic cirrhosis with insufficient response to conventional diuretics were enrolled. The observational period was up to 6 months. Changes in body weight and clinical symptoms were measured to evaluate effectiveness. The incidence of adverse drug reactions was summarized as a safety measure.

RESULTS

Of 970 patients enrolled, 463 were included in the safety analysis. Of this group, 340 were included in the effectiveness analysis. Decreases in body weight from baseline were -2.38 kg on day 7 and -3.52 kg on day 14. Ascites and bloated feeling was significantly improved within 14 days. The mean change in body weight depended on estimated glomerular filtration rate levels. The most frequently reported adverse drug reaction was thirst (6.9% of patients). Serum sodium level of ≥146 mEq/L was observed in 12 patients (2.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

In the real-world clinical setting, tolvaptan showed aquaretic effectiveness in patients with cirrhosis. The mean change in body weight depended on renal function. We recommend tolvaptan use for hepatic cirrhosis at a stage in which the renal function is maintained.