Patients with advanced cirrhosis and ascites are characterized by circulatory dysfunction with splanchnic vasodilatation and renal vasoconstriction, which often lead to ascites. The vasoconstrictor terlipressin improves renal function in hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). The aim of this study was to evaluate if terlipressin also improves renal function in patients with ascites without HRS. Twenty-three patients with cirrhosis participated; 15 with nonrefractory ascites were randomized to either terlipressin (N group, n ؍ 11) or a placebo (P group, n ؍ 4), and 8 had refractory ascites and received terlipressin (R group). The glomerular filtration rate (GFR), sodium clearance (C Na ), lithium clearance (C Li ), osmolal clearance (C Osm ), and urine sodium concentration (U Na ) were assessed before and after the injection of 2 mg of terlipressin or the placebo. GFR increased in the N group (69 ؎ 19 versus 92 ؎ 25 mL/min, P < 0.005) and in the R group (31 ؎ 19 versus 41 ؎ 31 mL/min, P < 0.05) after terlipressin. In the N group, terlipressin induced an increase in C Na (0.89 ؎ 0.21 versus 1.52 ؎ 1.45 mL/min, P < 0.05), C Li (17.3 ؎ 8.9 versus 21.5 ؎ 11.6 mL/min, P < 0.05), and C Osm (2.10 ؎ 0.81 versus 3.06 ؎ 2.0 mL/min, P < 0.05). In the R group, terlipressin induced an increase in C Na (0.11 ؎ 0.18 versus 0.35 ؎ 0.40 mL/min, P < 0.05) and C Li (5.5 ؎ 4.2 versus 9.5 ؎ 8.55 mL/min, P < 0.05). U Na increased in both groups after terlipressin (P < 0.005). Plasma norepinephrine (P < 0.05) and renin (P < 0.05) decreased after terlipressin. All parameters remained unchanged after the placebo. Conclusion: The vasopressin 1 receptor agonist terlipressin improves renal function and induces natriuresis in patients with cirrhosis and ascites without HRS. Vasoconstrictors may represent a novel future treatment modality for these patients. (HEPATOLOGY 2007;46:1863-1871.) See Editorial on Page 1685
A scites is a serious complication of cirrhosis, occurring in about 50% of patients within 10 years after diagnosis, and it is associated with 50% mortality in 2 years. 1,2 Patients with ascites have hyperdynamic circulation, which is characterized by peripheral and splanchnic arterial vasodilatation and reduced arterial blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance. 3 Portal hypertension and splanchnic vasodilatation are major factors in the development of ascites. 4,5 Secondary to vasodilatation, vasoactive hormones, such as the reninangiotensin-aldosterone system and the sympathetic nervous system, are activated. This leads to renal vasoconstriction and reduced renal perfusion and filtration pressure. The current standard treatment of ascites involves diuretics and paracentesis, which are not designed to improve the underlying pathophysiology. The changes in the renal handling of water and salt seem to develop stepwise from a stage that can be controlled by diuretics to a stage refractory to diuretics and finally to full-blown renal failure, which is known as hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) type 1. 6 Several clinical studies have evaluated the efficacy of the long-term administration of terlipressin [a vasopressin 1 (V1) receptor agonist] in patients with HRS, [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] and there is evidence that terlipressin may improve renal