Disfunción renal en el paciente cirrótico / Renal dysfunction in the cirrhotic patient

La disfunción renal es una complicación común en pacientes con cirrosis avanzada y está asociadaa un incremento significativo en la mortalidad. Este deterioro de la función renal puede ser reversible en algunos casos, si se identifica y se trata su etiología. La lesión renal aguda (LRA) de origen prerrenal y la necrosis tubular aguda (NTA) son las entidades más frecuentes en pacientes con enfermedad hepática crónica y cirrosis, constituyendo un desafío en los escenarios clínicos actuales. La aparición de nuevos biomarcadores como la lipocalina asociada a la gelatinasa de neutrófilos (NGAL), puede ser un factor determinante para esclarecer el origen de estas dos entidades. En la actualidad, la clasificación de la enfermedad renal establece que un aumento en la creatinina sérica basal >0,3 mg/dL dentro de las primeras 48 horas, o un incremento mayor al 50% desde la línea de base, son suficientes para definir lesión renal aguda, por lo cual, cambios leves en la creatinina sérica en un periodo corto de tiempo, contribuyen a una identificación temprana y previenen desenlaces negativos. Esta revisión de tema abordará la lesión renal aguda en cirrosis desde la fisiopatología, la clasificación actual según guías internacionales, los avances en biomarcadores y las principales etiologías, finalizando con un abordaje general y estrategias de prevención.

Kidney dysfunction is a common complication in patients with advanced cirrhosis and is associated with a significant increase in mortality. This deterioration of kidney function may be reversible in some cases, if its etiology is identified and treated. Acute kidney injury (AKI) of prerenal origin and acute tubular necrosis (ATN) are the most frequent entities in patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, constituting a challenge in current clinical scenarios. The emergence of new biomarkers such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), may be a determining factor in clarifying the origin of these two entities. Currently, the classification of renal disease establishes that an increase in basal serum creatinine >0,3 mg/dL within the first 48 hours, or an increase higher than 50% from the baseline, are enough to define acute kidney injury, therefore slight changes in serum creatinine in a short period of time contribute to an early identification and prevent negative outcomes. This literature review will address acute kidney injury in cirrhosis from its pathophysiology, current classification according to international guidelines, advances in biomarkers and the main etiologies associated with it, ending with a general approach and prevention strategies.

Arritmias e alterações cardíacas no paciente cirrótico / Arrhythmias and cardiac alterations in the cirrhotic patient

No Brasil, a cirrose é um problema de saúde pública, que afeta aproximadamente 2 milhões de pessoas. As causas mais comuns são a doença hepática alcoólica, as hepatites virais e a doença hepática não alcoólica. A relação entre desordens cardíacas e hepatopatias é descrita na literatura, e a mais importante delas é o prolongamento do intervalo QT. A cirrose, independente de sua causa, é uma patologia frequentemente encontrada na população brasileira. Por este motivo, elucidar dados referentes às arritmias cardíacas em pacientes cirróticos é de grande importância dentro do estudo desta subpopulação. O objetivo deste artigo é fazer uma revisão de literatura com as informações referentes a epidemiologia, fisiopatologia, fatores de risco e prognóstico para as arritmias cardíacas em portadores de cirrose. (AU)

In Brazil, cirrhosis is a public health problem affecting approximately 2 million people. The most common causes are alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, and non-alcoholic liver disease. The relationship between cardiac disorders and liver diseases is described in the literature, and the most important one is the QT interval prolongation. Cirrhosis, regardless of its causes, is a pathology that is frequently found in the Brazilian population. For this reason, elucidating data regarding cardiac arrhythmias in cirrhotic patients is of great importance within the study of this subpopulation. The aim of this article is to review the literature with information on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, and prognosis for cardiac arrhythmias in patients with cirrhosis. (AU)

Falla hepática aguda sobre crónica / Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure

La falla hepática aguda sobre crónica (ACLF, del inglés Acuteon Chronic Liver Failure) comprende el deterioro agudo de la función hepática en un paciente que tiene de base una enfermedad hepática crónica de novo o conocida y desencadenada por diferentes factores precipitantes que pueden ser hepáticos o extrahepáticos. Dentro de las manifestaciones clínicas se encuentran: disfunción renal, encefalopatía hepática y falla orgánica multisistémica, que de no ser tratadas oportunamente se traducen en mal pronóstico. Se han utilizado varias puntuaciones para valorar la función hepática y el pronóstico de los pacientes. A pesar de que la falla orgánica multisistémica es una contraindicación para el trasplante hepático, este sigue siendo la mejor opción de tratamiento para estos pacientes

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) includes acute deterioration of liver functions in patients with either chronic de novo liver disease or already diagnosed liver disease. ACLF can be triggered by various hepatic or extrahepatic precipitating factors. Among its clinical manifestations are renal dysfunction, hepatic encephalopathy, and multisystem organ failure. If not treated promptly translate the prognosis can be poor. Several scoring systems have been used to assess liver function and patient prognosis. Although multisystem organ failure contraindicates liver transplantation, it remains the treatment of choice for this patients

Síndrome hepatorrenal: fisiopatología, diagnóstico y manejo / Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Management of Hepatorenal Syndrome

El síndrome hepatorrenal es la forma de disfunción renal que complica a los pacientes con enfermedad hepática avanzada o insuficiencia hepática aguda. En él se presentan alteraciones notables en la circulación renal arterial, lo cual conlleva a una elevación progresiva de los niveles de creatinina y ascitis. En la actualidad su esquema de tratamiento farmacológico es limitado, por lo que la mejor opción terapéutica resulta ser el trasplante hepático.

Hepatorenal syndrome is a form of renal dysfunction develops as a complication in patients with advanced liver disease and in patients with acute liver failure. Significant alterations in renal blood flow lead to progressively increasing levels of creatinine and to ascites. Currently, the best treatment option is liver transplantation because options for treatment with drugs are very limited.

Patogenia, diagnóstico y tratamiento de la disfunción renal en cirrosis / Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment of Renal Dysfunction in Cirrhosis

Los pacientes con cirrosis hepática son susceptibles a presentar un deterioro de la función renal que puede ser de naturaleza funcional y/o estructural. La insuficiencia renal aguda (IRA) prerrenal representa la forma más frecuente en el 68% de los casos, e incluye un tipo especial de insuficiencia renal funcional conocida como síndrome hepatorrenal (SHR). La creatinina sérica permanece como el mejor biomarcador de IRA en cirrosis a pesar de sus reconocidas limitaciones. La diferenciación entre necrosis tubular aguda (NTA) y SHR se puede establecer con el uso de biomarcadores urinarios como la uNGAL. Los factores de riesgo de IRA en cirrosis incluyen las infecciones bacterianas, la hemorragia digestiva, las pérdidas de líquidos gastrointestinales y renales, la paracentesis sin albúmina y los agentes nefrotóxicos, entre otros. Los nuevos criterios por estadios de la AKI-IAC para el diagnóstico de IRA en cirrosis, que inician por un aumento de la creatinina sérica ≥0,3 mg/dL en menos de 48 horas, mejoran el pronóstico de los pacientes al permitir una intervención más temprana. El diagnóstico del SHR se establece al excluir las causas de azoemia prerrenal, NTA y expandir el volumen con albúmina. El uso de vasoconstrictores esplácnicos, como la terlipresina junto con la albúmina, permite revertir hasta el 40% de los casos de SHR. El trasplante hepático representa el tratamiento definitivo en pacientes con SHR.

Patients with cirrhosis of the liver are susceptible to deterioration of renal function which may be functional or structural. Prerenal acute renal failure which occurs in 68% of these cases is the most common form. It includes a special type of functional renal failure known as hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). Serum creatinine remains the best biomarker for acute renal failure in cirrhosis despite its recognized limitations. Acute tubular necrosis and HRS can be differentiated by using urinary biomarkers such as urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL). Risk factors for acute renal failure in cirrhosis include bacterial infections, gastrointestinal bleeding, loss of gastrointestinal and renal fluids, paracentesis without albumin, and nephrotoxic agents. The new criteria for staging acute kidney injury (AKI) in cirrhosis have improved patient outcomes by enabling earlier interventions by starting when serum creatinine increases above 0.3 mg/dl in less than 48 hours. The diagnosis of HRS is established by excluding causes of pre-renal azotemia, acute tubular necrosis and volume expansion with albumin. The use of splanchnic vasoconstrictors such as terlipressin together with albumin can reverse up to 40% of cases of SHR. Liver transplantation is the definitive treatment for patients with hepatorenal syndrome.

Síndrome hepatorrenal: abordaje clínico y estrategia terapéutica / Hepatorenal Syndrome: clinical approach and therapeutic strate

El síndrome hepatorrenal (SHR) se define como el desarrollo de injuria renalen un paciente cirrótico en ausencia de una causa identificable que la explique. De acuerdo con la velocidad de instalación y la severidad de la fallarenal, se describen 2 tipos (tipo I y tipo II). El SHR tipo I se caracteriza por un rápido y progresivo deterioro de la función renal con un pronóstico ominoso, mientras que en el SHR tipo II el desarrollo de la falla renal es de instalación más insidiosa y de menor gravedad, pero de todas formas con un mal pronóstico a corto plazo. La media de sobrevida global de esta entidad es deaproximadamente 3 meses (2 semanas para el SHR tipo I vs. 4 a 6 meses para el SHR tipo II), aunque la implementación de estrategias terapéuticas tiene un claro impacto en el pronóstico. Dado que no existen pruebas de laboratorio específicas para su diagnóstico, éste se basa en datos clínico-analíticos y en la exclusión de otras causas de injuria renal en este contexto. El tratamiento definitivo de esta entidad es el trasplante hepático, siendo los fármacos vasoconstrictores sistémicos análogos de la vasopresina en combinación con albúmina la terapéutica puente de elección a él

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is defined as the onset of renal failure without an identifiable cause in a cirrhotic patient. According with the installation speed and the severity of the renal failure, two types are described: type I and type II. Type I is characterized by a rapid and progressive deterioration of renal function with an ominous prognosis. Type II, presents with an insidious and less severe development of renal failure, but always bears a poor short-term prognosis. Although the implementation of therapeutic strategies has a clear impact on the prognosis, the median overall survival of these patients is approximately 3 months (2 weeks for type I HRS vs. 4 to 6 months for type II HRS). Since there are no specific tests for the diagnosis, it is based on a combination of clinical and laboratory data as well as the exclusion of other kinds of renal injury. Systemic vasoconstrictors drugs analogues of vasopressin combined with albumin are the treatment of choice before liver transplantation, which constitutes the definitive treatment of this entity.

Avaliação de pacientes pós-tratamento com terlipressina / Evaluation of patients after treatment with terlipressin

Introdução: Sangramento de varizes esofágicas e síndrome hepatorrenal são complicações com altas taxas de morbidade e são comuns em pacientes cirróticos.A terlipressina é um fármaco com atividade vasoconstritora utilizado para melhorar as condições clínicas dessas complicações tanto no pré quanto no pós-operatório.Objetivo: Descrever o perfil dos pacientes submetidos ao tratamento com terlipressina, bem como avaliar a situação clínica após o tratamento e seu desfecho.Método: Estudo transversal, descritivo, com análise de prontuários eletrônicos de pacientes que receberam terlipressina em um hospital do sul do Brasil. Osdados analisados foram idade, sexo, período de internação, quantidade de doses administradas ao paciente durante o tratamento com terlipressina, duração dotratamento, causa da internação hospitalar, indicação da terlipressina, se seu usofoi conforme o Protocolo Assistencial de Hemorragia Digestiva (no caso de varizesesofágicas) e condição do paciente na alta.Resultados: Foram avaliados 37 prontuários. Observou-se que 18 (48,7%)pacientes tinham idade superior a 60 anos; 25 (67,6%) eram do sexo masculino;para 18 (48,7%) o tempo de internação ficou em torno de 7 dias; 14 (37,8%) foram internados por sangramento digestivo, sendo que, desses, 11 (78,6%) não puderamseguir as condutas do Protocolo Assistencial de Hemorragia Digestiva; 17 (45,9%)receberam mais de 12 doses de terlipressina, que, para 19 (51,3%), durou até dois dias.Conclusão: Considerando a gravidade dos pacientes, os resultados foram concordantes com os dados disponíveis na literatura. O uso de terlipressina justificase por melhorar as condições clínicas dos pacientes e por aumentar a sobrevida em casos mais críticos.

Background: Variceal bleeding and hepatorenal syndrome are complications with high morbidity and common in cirrhotic patients. Terlipressin is a vasoconstrictor drug used to both pre and postoperatively improve clinical conditions of these two complications.Aim: To describe the profile of patients undergoing treatment with terlipressin and to assess the clinical condition after treatment and its outcome Method: Cross-sectional, descriptive study with analysis of electronic medical records of patients receiving terlipressin in a hospital in the south of Brazil. The data analyzed were age, gender, length of stay, number of doses administered to thepatient during treatment with terlipressin, treatment duration, cause of hospitalization,indication of terlipressin, whether the use of this drug followed the Digestive BleedingCare Protocol (for esophageal varices), and the patient’s condition at discharge.Results: We evaluated 37 medical records. We observed that 18 (48.7%) patientswere aged over 60 years; 25 (67.6%) were male; 18 (48.7%) were hospitalizedaround 7 days; 14 (37.8%) were hospitalized due to gastrointestinal bleeding, and11 of them (78.6%) were not able to follow the Digestive Bleeding Care Protocol;17 (45.9%) received more than 12 doses of terlipressin; and 19 (51.3%) patientsreceived terlipressin until two days.Conclusion: Considering the severity of the patients, the results were consistent with the data available in the literature. The use of terlipressin was justified by the improvement of the patients’ clinical conditions and by the increase in survival incritical cases.

Anastomose portossistêmica intra-hepática transjugular (TIPS): análise casuística de 28 casos em um hospital de referência / Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts transjugular liver (TIPS): analisys of 28 patients in a hospital cases of reference

Introdução: TIPS (anastomose intra-hepática portossistêmica transjugular) surgiu como uma alternativa para as complicações da hipertensão porta não-responsiva ao tratamento convencional, e está cada vez mais sendo utilizada. Objetivos: estudar os resultados da colocação do TIPS em 28 pacientes em um hospital de Porto Alegre e descrevê-los segundo indicações, gênero, idade, classificação de Child-Pugh, etiologia da hipertensão porta e gradiente de pressão porta. Método: estudo descritivo do tipo série de casos realizado na cidade de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, envolvendo pacientes que foram submetidos ao implante de TIPS, no período de 1999 a 2009, através da revisão de seus prontuários. Resultados: a indicação mais comum para o implante de TIPS foi ascite refratária (n=19, 67,8%), e a maioria dos pacientes tinha a classe C de Child (n=16, 57,1%) de origem etiológica por hepatite C (n=19, 67,9%). O sucesso da técnica foi alcançado em 26 (92,8%) pacientes, porém, houve complicações imediatas ao procedimento em onze pacientes e foram as seguintes: estenose do stent por trombose (n=4) ou por oclusão (n=5), ressangramento das varizes esofágicas logo após o procedimento (n=1) e encefalopatia portossistêmica (n=1). Houve impossibilidade de implante devido à fibrose hepática em dois pacientes, não sendo considerada como complicação já que o procedimento não foi finalizado. Conclusão: este estudo confirma a eficácia do TIPS no manejo da hipertensão porta, mostrando uma taxa de sucesso da técnica de 92,8%. A indicação mais comum neste estudo foi ascite refratária e a etiologia foi cirrose por hepatite C. A complicação que mais surgiu foi oclusão do stent, sendo, na maioria dos pacientes, resolvida após um ou mais procedimentos de redilatação.

Introduction: TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) has emerged as an alternative to treat the complications of portal hypertension non responsive to the conventional treatment and it has been used more and more often. Objectives: to study the results of TIPS creation in 28 patients in a hospital in Porto Alegre and to describe them according to indication, gender, age, Child-Pugh classification, portal hypertension etiology and portal pressure gradient. Method: descriptive study of case series carried out in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, involving patients who had undergone TIPS creation between 1999 and 2009. Results: the most common indication for TIPS creation was refractory ascites (n=19, 67.8%) and most patients were classified as Child-Pugh class C (n=16, 57.1%) originated from hepatitis C (n=19, 67.9%). The technique was successful in 26 (92.8%) patients. However, there were immediate complications to the procedure in eleven patients. The complications were as follows: stenosis of stent by thrombosis (n=4) or by occlusion (n=5), esophageal varices bleeding rig ht after the procedure (n=1) and portosystemic encephalopathy (n=1). It was not possible to create TIPS in two patients due to hepatic fibrosis, and this was not considered a complication since the procedure was not concluded. Conclusion: this study confirms the efficiency of TIPS in the management of portal hypertension, showing a success rate of 92.8%. The most common indication in this study was refractory ascites and the ethiology was cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C. The most frequent complication was occlusion of stent, which was solved, in most cases, by using one or more procedures of repeat dilatation.

Cirrosis hepática: medidas preventivas de algunas de sus complicaciones / Liver cirrhosis: some complications preventive measures

Cirrosis hepática es una enfermedad prevalente en el mundo. Su diagnóstico y tratamiento debe ser dominio de todo médico general e internista. En los últimos años han ocurrido notables avances en el diagnóstico, fisiopatología, tratamiento y en la identificación de factores pronósticos de cirrosis y de sus complicaciones mayores. Particular atención ha existido en desarrollar medidas preventivas de sus complicaciones como por ejemplo: hemorragia por várices esofágicas, peritonitis bacteriana espontánea, síndrome hepatorrenal. Estas medidas preventivas han influido de forma muy favorable en el pronóstico de los pacientes cirróticos. En este artículo se discuten las diversas estrategias preventivas que han demostrado su efectividad en cirrosis hepática

Liver cirrhosis is a prevalent disease around the world. Its diagnosis and treatment must be in the knowledge of every general physicians and internist.Over the last years, there have been notorious advances in the diagnosis, pathophysiology, treatment and the identification of prognosis factors for cirrhosis major complications.There has been particular attention to the development of preventive measures for its complications, such as variceal bleeding, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatorenal syndrome. These preventive measures have had a favorable influence on the prognosis of cirrhotic patients. This article discusses several preventive strategies that have proven its effectiveness in hepatic cirrhosis

Síndrome hepatorenal: patogénesis y tratamiento / Hepatorenal syndrome: pathogenesis and treatment

El Síndrome Hepatorenal (SHR) es una insuficiencia renal aguda funcional y reversible, que se desarrolla en pacientes con cirrosis hepática descompensada o en insuficiencia hepática aguda severa. La característica principal del SHR es la intensa vasoconstricción renal causada por la interacción entre alteraciones hemodinámicas a nivel sistémico y portal. El aumento del volumen intravascular y un prolongado tratamiento con fármacos vasoconstrictores pueden revertir la falla renal en un porcentaje significativo de pacientes. El SHR Tipo 2, el más frecuente, generalmente presenta una evolución lenta y un mejor pronóstico que el SHR Tipo 1. La terapia vasoconstrictora con terlipresina asociado a albúmina es el tratamiento de elección en pacientes con SHR. Apesar del avance en las diferentes estrategias terapéuticas, el pronóstico a largo plazo es aún pobre y depende generalmente del grado de reversibilidad de la enfermedad hepática asociada o del acceso al trasplante hepático. En la presente revisión se discutirán los avances más recientes en el diagnóstico, patogénesis y tratamiento del SHR.

The Hepatorenal Syndrome (HRS) is a functional and reversible form of acute renal failure, which develops in decompensated cirrhosis or acute liver failure. The distinctive hallmark feature of HRS is the intense renal vasoconstriction caused by interactions between systemic and portal hemodynamics. Increasing intravascular volume and prolonged treatment with vasoconstrictors drugs reverses renal failure in a significant proportion of patients. Type 2 HRS, the most frequent, generally follows a slower course and has a better prognosis than Type 1 HRS. Vasopressor therapy with terlipressin plus intravenous albumin is the medical treatment of choice for patients with HRS. Despite improvements in the therapeutic strategies, long term prognosis is still poor and generally depends on the degree of reversibility of the underlying liver disease or access to liver transplantation. In the present review, the most recent advances in diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of HRS are discussed.

Poor outcomes with treatment of hepatorenal syndrome type 1 with splancnic vasoconstrictors and albumin: report of seven cases and review of the literature / Resultados adversos com o emprego de vasoconstritores esplâncnicos e albumina para tratamento da síndrome hepatorrenal do tipo 1: relato de sete casos e revisão da literatura

CONTEXT: Treatment of hepatorenal syndrome type 1 (HRS-1) with splancnic vasoconstrictors and high-dose albumin has been associated with reversal of renal failure in approximately 60 percent to 80 percent of the cases in pilot or uncontrolled studies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of treatment of HRS-1 with terlipressin and high-dose albumin. METHODS: All patients with HRS-1 that underwent treatment with terlipressin and high-dose albumin at our unit were retrospectively reviewed. Outcomes including reversal of renal failure and death were recorded and compared to baseline clinical and laboratory parameters. RESULTS: Seven subjects (median age 64 [47-69] years, 5 males) with median Child-Pugh and MELD scores of 12 [10-15] and 22 [17-38], respectively, hospitalized with decompensated chronic liver disease secondary to tense ascitis and infections, who exhibited criteria for HRS-1, were submitted to therapy with terlipressin and high-dose albumin according to a predefined standard protocol. Baseline creatinine levels were 2.9 [2.3-4.0] mg/mL. None of the patients achieved reversal of HRS-1 and five subjects died on-treatment due to sudden-death (n = 1), multiple organ dysfunction associated with end-stage liver failure (n = 2) and sepsis (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of HRS-1 with terlipressin and high-dose albumin was not associated with reversal of renal failure, but most of the treated subjects had severe end-stage liver disease with high MELD scores as well as high baseline creatinine values, parameters previously associated with bad outcomes.

CONTEXTO: O tratamento da síndrome hepatorrenal do tipo 1 (SHR-1) com vasoconstritores esplâncnicos e albumina intravenosa tem se associado, em relatos de caso e estudos piloto não-controlados, à reversão da insuficiência renal em 60 por cento-80 por cento dos pacientes tratados. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados do tratamento da SHR-1 com terlipressina e albumina. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados, retrospectivamente, todos os pacientes hospitalizados com o diagnóstico de SHR-1 que se submeteram a tratamento com terlipressina associada à albumina em altas doses. As frequências de reversão de insuficiência renal e óbito foram comparados com parâmetros clínicos e laboratoriais pré-tratamento. RESULTADOS: Sete pacientes (5 homens, idade mediana 64 [47-69] anos) com mediana de pontuação Child-Pugh e MELD respectivamente de 12 [10-15] e 22 [17-38], admitidos na unidade de terapia intensiva por desconforto respiratório secundário à ascite tensa ou por infecções, que apresentaram critérios para SHR-1 e eligibilidade para o transplante de fígado foram submetidos a tratamento com terlipressina e albumina, de acordo com protocolo pré-definido. Níveis de creatinina prévios ao tratamento foram de 2.9 [2.3-4.0] mg/mL. Nenhum paciente apresentou reversão da SHR-1 e cinco faleceram por morte súbita (n = 1), disfunção de múltiplos órgãos associada a falência hepática (n = 2) e sepse (n = 2), a maioria antes de completar o tratamento. CONCLUSÕES: O tratamento da SHR-1 com terlipressina e albumina, em altas doses, não foi associado à reversão da insuficiência renal em nenhum dos pacientes tratados, mas a maioria dos pacientes apresentava doença hepática em fase avançada, com altos valores de MELD, e níveis elevados de creatinina pré-tratamento, parâmetros previamente associados com pior resposta e prognóstico mais reservado.

Insuficiencia renal en pacientes con cirrosis y ascitis: incidencia, etiología y factores predictivos / Renal failure in patients with cirrhosis and ascites: incidence, etiology and predictive factors

BACKGROUND: renal insufficiency (RI) is a frequent complication in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. OBJECTIVE: to assess the incidence, causes, predictive factors and prognosis of RI in cirrhotic patients with ascites. PATIENT AND METHODS: descriptive study of cases and controls. Clinical histories of 162 admissions in 103 patients during 3 years were reviewed. It was considered RI when there was an increase of creatininemia > 1.5 mg/dl. The predictive factors, clinical features, and mortality of the patients with and without RI were compared. RESULTS: a diagnosis of RI was made in 35 cases (21.6%). Hospital mortality rate was 18.5%: with RI 57.1%, controls 7.8% (p<0.01). Etiology: reversible prerrenal failure (54.3%), SHR 1 (14.2%) and 2 (5.7%), septic shock by spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) (11.4%), NTA (8.5%). The patients with and without RI had a Child-Pügh score average (+/-DS): 12.8 (1.8) and 11.4 (1.9) (p=0.0002) respectively. The patients with RI had higher values of total bilirubin, AST, ALT, white blood cells, time prothrombin, and minors values of serum sodium, Hto, Hb, protein, albumin and cholinesterase that controls (p<0.05). The clinical variables associated with RI included infections (OR 1.4), SBP (OR 4) and hepatic encephalopathy (OR 2.4). In the multivariate analysis, the independent predictive factors for RI were hyponatremia, bilirubinemia greater to 10 mg/dl and SPB. CONCLUSION: in cirrhotic patients RI have high mortality. The most frequent cause was reversible prerrenal failure. The risk of RI was increased significantly in patients with hyponatremia, marked hyperbilirubinemia and SPB.

Background: renal insufficiency (RI) is a frequent complication in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Objective: to assess the incidence, causes, predictive factors and prognosis of RI in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Patient and methods: descriptive study of cases andcontrols. Clinical histories of 162 admissions in 103 patients during 3 years were reviewed. It was consideredRI when there was an increase of creatininemia > 1,5 mg/dl. The predictive factors, clinical features, andmortality of the patients with and without RI were compared. Results: a diagnosis of RI was made in 35 cases (21.6%). Hospital mortality rate was 18.5%: with RI 57.1%, controls 7.8% (p< 0.01). Etiology: reversible prerrenal failure (54.3%), SHR 1 (14.2%) and 2 (5.7%), septic shock by spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) (11.4%), NTA (8.5%). The patientswith and without RI had a Child-Pügh score average (± DS): 12.8 (1.8) and 11,4 (1.9) (p=0.0002) respectively.The patients with RI had higher values of total bilirubin, AST, ALT, white blood cells, time prothrombin, and minors values of serum sodium, Hto, Hb, protein,albumin and cholinesterase that controls (p<0.05). The clinical variables associated with RI included infections (OR 1.4), SBP (OR 4) and hepatic encephalopathy (OR 2.4). In the multivariate analysis, the independent predictive factors for RI were hyponatremia, bilirubinemia greater to 10 mg/dl and SPB. Conclusion: in cirrhotic patients RI have high mortality.The most frequent cause was reversible prerrenal failure. The risk of RI was increased significantly in patients with hyponatremia, marked yperbilirubinemiaand SPB.

Hepatorenal syndrome: an update

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is the development of renal failure in patients with chronic previous liver disease, without clinical or laboratory evidence of previous kidney disease. It affects up to 18 percent of cirrhotic patients with ascites during the first year of follow-up, reaching 39 percent in five years and presenting a survival of about two weeks after its establishment. HRS diagnosis is based on clinical and laboratory data. The occurrence of this syndrome is related to the mechanism for ascites development, involving vasoconstriction, low renal perfusion, water and sodium retention, increased plasma volume, and consequent overflow at the splanchnic level. Renal vasoactive mediators like endothelin 1, thromboxane A2, and leukotrienes are also involved in the genesis of this syndrome, which culminates in functional renal insufficiency. The treatment of choice can be pharmacological or surgical, although liver transplantation is the only permanent and effective treatment, with a four-year survival rate of up to 60 percent. Liver function recovery is usually followed by renal failure reversion. Early diagnosis and timely therapeutics can increase life expectancy for these patients while they are waiting for liver transplantation as a definitive treatment.

A síndrome hepatorrenal (SHR) é o desenvolvimento do quadro de insuficiência renal em pacientes com doença hepática crônica prévia sem evidências clínica ou laboratorial de nefropatia prévia. Atinge até 18 por cento dos pacientes cirróticos com ascite em um ano, chegando a 39 por cento em cinco anos, com uma sobrevida média em torno de duas semanas após estabelecido o quadro. O diagnóstico da SHR baseia-se em critérios clínicos e laboratoriais. Seu aparecimento está relacionado ao mecanismo de formação de ascite, que envolve vasoconstrição e hipofluxo renal, retenção de água e sódio, aumento do volume plasmático, e conseqüentemente hiperfluxo no território esplâncnico. Mediadores vasoativos renais e humorais, como a endotelina 1, tromboxano A2 e leucotrienos, estão ainda envolvidos na gênese desta síndrome que culmina com insuficiência renal funcional. O tratamento preconizado da SHR pode ser farmacológico ou cirúrgico, sendo o transplante de fígado o único efetivo e permanente, com sobrevida de até 60 por cento em quatro anos. Após melhora da função hepática, geralmente há a reversão da insuficiência renal. O diagnóstico precoce e a rápida terapêutica podem ampliar a expectativa de vida destes hepatopatas enquanto se aguarda o transplante hepático para seu tratamento definitivo.