Hepatorrenal syndrome is a serious complication that usually occurs in people with advanced liver disease, such as cirrhosis or liver failure, which is also characterized by worsening kidney function, where strong vasoconstriction occurs, resulting in a marked reduction in the rate.glomerular filtration and, consequently, acute renal failure. In contrast, extrarenal vasodilation occurs leading to systemic hypotension.
Hepatorrenal syndrome is a generally fatal condition, unless a liver transplant is performed, which is the treatment of choice for this condition.
- Two types of hepatorrenal syndrome can occur.
- Type 1.
- Which is associated with rapid renal failure and excessive creatinine production.
- And type 2.
- Which is associated with slower kidney failure.
- Which is accompanied by more subtle symptoms.
Hepatorrenal syndrome is usually caused by cirrhosis of the liver, which can increase the risk of alcohol drinking, kidney infections, unstable blood pressure or diuretics.
In addition to cirrhosis, other diseases associated with chronic and severe hepatic impairment with portal hypertension, such as alcoholic hepatitis and acute liver failure, can also lead to hepatorrenal syndrome.Learn how to identify liver cirrhosis and how the disease is diagnosed.
These liver disorders lead to strong vasoconstriction of the kidneys, resulting in a marked reduction in glomerular filtration rate and, consequently, acute renal failure.
The most common symptoms that can be caused by hepatorrenal syndrome are jaundice, decreased urinary flow, dark urine, bloating, confusion, delirium, nausea and vomiting, dementia and weight gain.
Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for hepatorrenal syndrome, which allows kidney recovery, however, dialysis may be necessary to stabilize the patient, find out how hemodialysis is done and what the risks of this treatment are.
Your doctor may also prescribe vasoconstrictors, which help decrease endogenous activity of vasoconstrictors, thus increasing effective kidney blood flow.In addition, they are also used to correct blood pressure, which is usually low after dialysis.The most commonly used are vasopressin analogues, such as terlipresin, for example, and alpha-adrenergics, such as adrenaline and midodrine.