Diagnosis and Management of Hepatorenal Syndrome
Recognition
·
Consider HRS as part of the differential in any patient with acute liver injury or
cirrhosis who presents with acute renal insufficiency.
·
Type 1 HRS:
A ≥
50% drop in creatinine clearance to < 20 mL/min or doubling of
serum creatinine to > 2.5 mg/dL in two weeks or less.
·
Type 2 HRS: A less severe, more gradual decline in renal function, seen primarily in
patients with diuretic refractory ascites.
·
Other common causes of renal failure in this population include:
○
Hypovolemia (from large gastrointestinal bleeds, over-diuresis, diarrhea,
repeated large volume paracentesis, etc.).
○
Drug-induced renal toxicity (NSAIDs, antibiotics, etc.).
○
Infection.
○
Intra-abdominal compartment syndrome from tense ascites.
○
Parenchymal renal disease.
Initial Workup*
On admission (if not obtained in the ED) or at onset of renal failure
·
Chem 7.
·
UA, urine electrolytes (UrNa, UrUrea, UrCr), urine protein (spot or 24 hr.).
·
Foley catheter placement if needed.
·
Renal ultrasonography.
·
Liver function testing and ultrasonography.
·
CBC with differential.
·
Blood cultures x 2.
·
Urine culture.
·
Chest radiography.
·
Diagnostic paracentesis with ascitic fluid sent for cell count with
differential, bacterial culture, and albumin concentration.
* Source: Gines P, Schrier RW. Renal Failure in Cirrhosis, NEJM Sep. 24, 2009, 361
(13):1279-90.
Treatment
·
Can last up to 2 weeks.
·
Withhold diuretics and discontinue any potentially nephrotoxic medications.
·
In patients with evidence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, use 3
rd
generation cephalosporin (ceftriaxone or cefotaxime) or broad-spectrum
fluoroquinolone (in patients with penicillin or cephalosporin allergy).
See next page for recommended therapy regimens.
Consultations
·
Consult Nephrology Service.
·
Consult Hepatobiliary Service.
Diagnostic Criteria
·
Serum creatinine of > 1.5 mg/dL
that is not reduced to ≤
1.5 mg/dL
with the administration of albumin
(1 g/kg of body weight) and after a
minimum of 48 hours off diuretics.
·
Absence of other nephrotoxic drugs,
shock, and presence of parenchymal
renal diseases suggested by
proteinuria of > 500 mg/day,
hematuria of > 50 RBCs per high
power field (in the absence of Foley
catheter) or abnormal renal
ultrasonography.
Scope of the Problem
●
Nearly 40% of nonazotemic cirrhotic patients will develop hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) within 5 years.
● There is a
20% incidence in patients with severe acute liver injury and fulminant hepatic failure.
● Type
1 HRS has a 30-day mortality of nearly 50%.
2
Recommended Therapy Regimens
Combination Therapy
Dosing
Albumin
Proven to be more effective in volume
expansion than normal saline in this
population.
Albumin
Empiric administration of 25% salt poor albumin: 25 g Q6H for
24 hours (total cumulative dose of 100 g), followed by 20−40 g/day
starting on day 2 (if using vasoconstrictor therapy).
In the presence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis but absence
of HRS, dosing should be 1.5 g/kg at time of diagnosis and 1 g/kg
48 hours later.
Vasoconstrictor Therapy
Used to improve splanchnic arterial dilation.
Midodrine
Initial dosing 7.5 mg orally TID with an increase to 12.5 mg TID as
needed to increase mean arterial pressure by 15 mmHg.
Octreotide
Initial dosing 100 mcg TID, titrated up to 200 mcg TID on day 2 if no
hemodynamic response.
Order Sets
•
GE: Admission Hepatorenal Syndrome [2181]
References
•
Angeli P, et al. (1999). Reversal of Type 1
Hepatorenal Syndrome
with the Administration of
Midodrine and Octreotide. Hepatology, 29(6):
1690-7.
•
Sort P, et al. (1999). Effect of Intravenous
Albumin on Renal Impairment and Mortality in
Patients with Cirrhosis and Spontaneous Bacterial
Peritonitis. New England Journal of Medicine,
341(6):403-9.
•
Martin-Llahi M, et al. (2008). Terlipressin and
Albumin vs. Albumin in Patients with Cirrhosis
and Hepatorenal Syndrome: A Randomized
Study. Gastroenterology, 134(5):1352-9.
•
Sanyal A, et al. (2008). A Randomized,
Prospective, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled
Trial of Terlipressin for Type 1 Hepatorenal
Syndrome. Gastroenterology, 134(5):1360-8.
•
Gines P, Schrier RW. (2009). Renal Failure in
Cirrhosis,
New England Journal of Medicine,
361(13):1279-90.
•
Sharma P, et al. (2008). An Open Label, Pilot,
Randomized Controlled Trial of Noradrenaline
versus Terlipressin in the Treatment of
Hepatorenal Syndrome and Predictors of
Response. American Journal of Gastroenterology,
103:1689-97.
Quality Measures
•
Time from hospital admission to paracentesis
•
Percent of patients with:
o An order for albumin within 24 hours of
admission
o Nephrology consult within 48 hours of
admission
o Hepatobiliary consult within 48 hours of
admission
•
Percent of patients who received vasoconstrictor
therapy (midodrine in combination with octreotide)
within 48 hours of admission
Guideline Authors
•
James Hanje, MD
Guideline Approved
March 30, 2016. Third Edition.
Disclaimer: Clinical practice guidelines and algorithms at The
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
(OSUWMC) are standards that are intended to provide general
guidance to clinicians. Patient choice and clinician judgment
must remain central to the selection of diagnostic tests and
therapy. OSUWMC’s guidelines and algorithms are reviewed
periodically for consistency with new evidence; however, new
developments may not be represented.
Copyright © 2016. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical
Center. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be
reproduced, displayed, modified, or distributed in any form
without the express written permission of The Ohio State
University Wexner Medical Center.