Long-term treatment of hepatorenal syndrome as a bridge to liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Terlipressin plus albumin is first-line treatment for hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). Therapy lasts from a few days to two weeks, whereas the efficacy and safety of long-term administration remain unsettled.

METHODS

We describe our experience of prolonged terlipressin and albumin treatment as a bridge to liver transplantation in three patients with cirrhosis and recurrent HRS.

RESULTS

The length of treatment ranged from 62 days to eight months. Attempts to suspend terlipressin or to switch treatment to midodrine plus octreotide were consistently associated with a deterioration of serum creatinine and oliguria. No major side-effects were observed. All patients were transplanted, but two died from peri-operative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

These clinical cases suggest that long-term terlipressin administration in selected patients with recurrent HRS awaiting liver transplantation may represent an option to prevent irreversible renal failure and the need for dialysis until an organ becomes available.