Hepatorenal syndrome

Incidence

Age

Sex

Geography

Aetiology

- extreme peripheral vasodilatation ? due to NO
--> decrease in effective blood volume and hypotension
---> rise inplasma renin, aldosterone, angiotensin, noradrenaline
----> vasoconstriction of renal vasculature, blood flow directed away from renal cortex
-----> reduced GFR, plasma renin remains high; salt and water retention; small output of hypotonic urine
- can progress from this "functional" disease to acute tubular necrosis

- other possible mediators include eicosanoids; inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis e.g. NSAIDS can precipitate hepatorenal syndrome

Presentation
- seen in patients with advanced cirrhosis with jaundice and ascites
- small output of hypotonic urine
0 maybe precipitated by vigorous diuretic therapy, diarrhoea or paracentesis

Investigations

Macro

Micro
- in "functional" hepatorenal syndrome, histology is almost normal

Staging
 

Serum markers

Management

Medical
- stop diuretics
- fluids - correct intravascular hypovolaemia

Surgical
- TIPS can produce short-term improvement
- liver transplantation

Prognosis
- liver transplantation gives best long-term prognosis - similar to patients without renal failure

Complications

Hepatobiliary medicine

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