Ezequiel Rodríguez1, Chiara Elia2, Elsa Solà1, Rogelio Barreto1, Isabel Graupera1, Alida Andrealli3, Gustavo Pereira1, Maria Poca4, Jordi Sánchez5, Mónica Guevara1, Germán Soriano4, Carlo Alessandria3, Javier Fernández1, Vicente Arroyo1, Pere Ginès6. 1. Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August-Pi-Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHED), Spain; Instituto Reina Sofía de Investigación Nefrológica (IRSIN), Spain. 2. Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August-Pi-Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHED), Spain; Instituto Reina Sofía de Investigación Nefrológica (IRSIN), Spain; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. 3. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. 4. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHED), Spain; Liver Unit, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain. 5. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHED), Spain; Hospital Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain. 6. Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August-Pi-Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHED), Spain; Instituto Reina Sofía de Investigación Nefrológica (IRSIN), Spain. Electronic address: pgines@clinic.ub.es.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Terlipressin and albumin is the standard of care for classical type-1 hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) not associated with active infections. However, there is no information on efficacy and safety of this treatment in patients with type-1 HRS associated with sepsis. Study aim was to investigate the effects of early treatment with terlipressin and albumin on circulatory and kidney function in patients with type-1 HRS and sepsis and assess factors predictive of response to therapy. METHODS: Prospective study in 18 consecutive patients with type-1 HRS associated with sepsis. RESULTS: Treatment was associated with marked improvement in arterial pressure and suppression of the high levels of plasma renin activity and norepinephrine. Response to therapy (serum creatinine <1.5mg/dl) was achieved in 12/18 patients (67%) and was associated with improved 3-month survival compared to patients without response. Non-responders had significantly lower baseline heart rate, poor liver function tests, slightly higher serum creatinine, and higher Child-Pugh and MELD scores compared to responders. Interestingly, non-responders had higher values of CLIF-SOFA score compared to responders (14±3 vs. 8±1, respectively p<0.001), indicating greater severity of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). A CLIF-SOFA score ⩾11 had 92% sensitivity and 100% specificity in predicting no response to therapy. No significant differences were observed between responders and non-responders in baseline urinary kidney biomarkers. Treatment was safe and no patient required withdrawal of terlipressin. CONCLUSIONS: Early treatment with terlipressin and albumin in patients with type-1 HRS associated with sepsis is effective and safe. Patients with associated severe ACLF are unlikely to respond to treatment.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Terlipressin and albumin is the standard of care for classical type-1 hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) not associated with active infections. However, there is no information on efficacy and safety of this treatment in patients with type-1 HRS associated with sepsis. Study aim was to investigate the effects of early treatment with terlipressin and albumin on circulatory and kidney function in patients with type-1 HRS and sepsis and assess factors predictive of response to therapy. METHODS: Prospective study in 18 consecutive patients with type-1 HRS associated with sepsis. RESULTS: Treatment was associated with marked improvement in arterial pressure and suppression of the high levels of plasma renin activity and norepinephrine. Response to therapy (serum creatinine <1.5mg/dl) was achieved in 12/18 patients (67%) and was associated with improved 3-month survival compared to patients without response. Non-responders had significantly lower baseline heart rate, poor liver function tests, slightly higher serum creatinine, and higher Child-Pugh and MELD scores compared to responders. Interestingly, non-responders had higher values of CLIF-SOFA score compared to responders (14±3 vs. 8±1, respectively p<0.001), indicating greater severity of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). A CLIF-SOFA score ⩾11 had 92% sensitivity and 100% specificity in predicting no response to therapy. No significant differences were observed between responders and non-responders in baseline urinary kidney biomarkers. Treatment was safe and no patient required withdrawal of terlipressin. CONCLUSIONS: Early treatment with terlipressin and albumin in patients with type-1 HRS associated with sepsis is effective and safe. Patients with associated severe ACLF are unlikely to respond to treatment.