Hepatology : official journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
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Clinical Trial
Terlipressin therapy with and without albumin for patients with hepatorenal syndrome: results of a prospective, nonrandomized study.
Vasopressin analogues associated with albumin improve renal function in hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). The current study was aimed at assessing the efficacy of the treatment, predictive factors of response, recurrence of HRS, and survival after therapy. Twenty-one consecutive patients with HRS (16 with type 1 HRS, 5 with type 2 HRS) received terlipressin (0.5-2 mg/4 hours intravenously) until complete response was achieved (serum creatinine level < 1.5 mg/dL) or for 15 days; 13 patients received intravenous albumin together with terlipressin. ⋯ In conclusion, terlipressin therapy reverses HRS in a high proportion of patients. Recurrence rate after treatment withdrawal is uncommon. Albumin appears to improve markedly the beneficial effects of terlipressin.