Continuous recurrence of type 1 hepatorenal syndrome and long-term treatment with terlipressin and albumin: a new exception to MELD score in the allocation system to liver transplantation?

Controversies in terlipressin and transplantation in the United States: How do we MELD the two?

Hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney injury (HRS-AKI) is a severe complication of cirrhosis that carries a poor prognosis. The recent Food and Drug Administration approval of terlipressin has substantial implications for managing HRS-AKI and liver allocation in the United States. Terlipressin has been available in Europe for over a decade, and several countries have adapted policy changes such as Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score "lock" for HRS-AKI. In this article, we outline the European experience with terlipressin use and explore the question of whether terlipressin treatment for HRS-AKI should qualify for the MELD score "lock" in the United States in those who respond to therapy. Arguments for the MELD lock include protecting waitlist priority for terlipressin responders or partial responders who may miss offers due to MELD reduction in the terlipressin treatment window. Arguments against MELD lock include the fact that terlipressin may produce a durable response and improve overall survival and that equitable access to terlipressin is not guaranteed due to cost and availability. We subsequently discuss the proposed next steps for studying terlipressin implementation in the United States. A successful approach will require the involvement of all major stakeholders and the mobilization of our transplant community to spearhead research in this area.

INFUSE: Rationale and design of a multi-center, open label, collaborative study to treat HRS-AKI with continuous terlipressin infusion

Background

Hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney injury (HRS-AKI) carries significant morbidity and mortality among those with end-stage liver disease. Bolus terlipressin for treatment of HRS-AKI received FDA approval in September 2022. US implementation of terlipressin, however, is hindered by the paucity of local data on the optimal patient population and administration mode, as well as the effect on transplant priority. The INFUSE study is designed to evaluate the use of continuous terlipressin infusion among transplant candidates with advanced liver disease and HRS-AKI.

Methods

Fifty prospective patients with HRS-AKI will receive a single bolus of terlipressin 0.5 mg followed by continuous infusions of terlipressin from 2 to 8 mg/day for up to 14 days. The cohort will be enriched with those listed, in evaluation, or eligible for liver transplantation, while those with ACLF grade 3, MELD ≥35, and serum creatinine >5.0 mg/dL will be excluded. Fifty patients who received midodrine plus octreotide or norepinephrine for HRS-AKI will serve as a retrospective comparator cohort.

Conclusion

The INFUSE study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of continuous terlipressin infusion among largely transplant-eligible patients with HRS-AKI, and to provide US-based data on transplant outcomes. This novel study design simultaneously mitigates terlipressin adverse events while providing renal benefits to patients, thus addressing the unmet medical need of those with HRS-AKI who have limited treatment options and are awaiting liver transplantation in the US.

Essentials of Liver Transplantation in the Setting of Acute Kidney Injury and Chronic Kidney Disease

Kidney dysfunction is common among liver transplant candidates with decompensated cirrhosis and has a major impact on pre- and post-liver transplant survival. Updated definitions of acute kidney injury and criteria for the diagnosis of hepatorenal syndrome allow for early recognition and intervention, including early initiation of vasoconstrictor therapy for hepatorenal syndrome. The rise of the metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as a cause of cirrhosis has coincided with an increase in intrinsic chronic kidney disease recognized in transplant candidates and recipients. Ultimately, the ability to accurately assess kidney function and associated risk is essential to decision-making in the context of transplantation, including selection of candidates for simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation.

Terlipressin for the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome: an overview of current evidence

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a serious complication of liver cirrhosis, which is of pre-renal origin due to central volume depletion together with cardiac dysfunction and characterized by oliguria with severe urinary sodium retention and elevated serum creatinine levels. HRS is divided into HRS I, which is rapidly progressive and mostly seen in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, and HRS II, which progresses more slowly and is always accompanied by gross ascites. Liver transplantation is the best choice of treatment for HRS but rarely available. Current mainstay pharmacological therapies are vasoconstrictors, such as terlipressin, noradrenaline and dopamine, in combination with albumin. This paper aims to overview the current evidence regarding outcomes of terlipressin for the treatment of HRS.

Challenges in Renal Failure Treatment Before Liver Transplant

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in patients with cirrhosis and ascites on the waiting list for liver transplant. Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is an important cause of AKI among cirrhotics. A dynamic definition of AKI in patients with cirrhosis has been introduced and changed the diagnosis criteria. Liver transplantation remains the better option but the medical management of HRS has changed. Terlipressin plus albumin is currently the gold standard. Surgery and liver or kidney support systems have been recommended. Clinical trials will assess the most appropriate approach for the treatment of HRS in light of the revised diagnostic criteria.

The Treatment of Hepatorenal Syndrome

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a severe complication that often occurs in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. HRS is a functional renal failure that develops mainly as a consequence of a severe cardiovascular dysfunction which is characterized by an extreme splanchnic arterial vasodilation and a reduction of cardiac output. HRS may develop in two clinical types: as an acute and rapidly progressive renal failure (AKI-HRS) or as chronic and not progressive renal failure (CKD-HRS). Several small studies and some randomized control studies have been published on the use of terlipressin plus albumin in the treatment of HRS, mainly on AKI-HRS. Terlipressin plus albumin was shown to improve renal function in almost 35-45% of patients with AKI-HRS, as well as to improve short-term survival in these patients. Terlipressin was most commonly used by intravenous boluses moving from an initial dose of 0.5-1 mg every 4 h to 3 mg every 4 h in the case of a nonresponse. In other studies, terlipressin was also given by continuous intravenous infusion. Thus, the best way to administer terlipressin in the treatment of HRS has not yet been defined. α-Adrenergic drugs, such as intravenous norepinephrine or oral midodrine plus subcutaneous octreotide, administered with albumin have also been used in the treatment of AKI-HRS, with promising results. However, we need further studies in order to define whether they can represent a real therapeutic alternative. In conclusion, available data are sufficient to state that the use of terlipressin plus albumin has really changed the management of HRS. Nevertheless, some crucial unsolved issues still exist, in particular: (a) how to predict nonresponse to treatment, (b) how to manage nonresponse to treatment and (c) how to consider the response in those patients who are candidates for liver transplant in the priority allocation process.

Complications of cirrhosis. A 50 years flashback

In patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, it is largely the frequency and severity of complications relating to the diseased liver, degree of portal hypertension and hemodynamic derangement that determine the prognosis. It can be considered as a multiple organ failure that apart from the liver involves the heart, lungs, kidneys, the immune systems and other organ systems. Progressive fibrosis of the liver and subsequent metabolic impairment leads to a systemic and splanchnic arteriolar vasodilatation. With the progression of the disease development of portal hypertension leads to formation of esophageal varices and ascites. The circulation becomes hyperdynamic with cardiac, pulmonary as well as renal consequences for dysfunction and reduced survival. Infections and a changed cardiac function known as cirrhotic cardiomyopathy may be involved in further aggravation of other complications such as renal failure precipitating the hepatorenal syndrome. Patients with end-stage liver disease and related complications as for example the hepatopulmonary syndrome can only radically be treated by liver transplantation.

Clinical implications of the hyperdynamic syndrome in cirrhosis

The hyperdynamic syndrome is a late consequence of portal hypertension in cirrhosis. The principal hemodynamic manifestations of the hyperdynamic syndrome are high cardiac output, and increased heart rate and total blood volume, accompanied by reduced total systemic vascular resistance. Pathophysiology involves a complex of humoral and neural mechanisms that can determine hemodynamic changes, and lead to hyperdynamic circulation. In this review we focus our attention on the manifestations of the hyperdynamic syndrome. Some of these are well described and directly related to portal hypertension (varices, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and hepatorenal syndrome), while others, such as hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, and cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, are less known as clinical manifestations related to cirrhosis and, therefore, merit further investigation.

Kidney injury in cirrhosis: pathophysiological and therapeutic aspects of hepatorenal syndromes

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequent in patients with cirrhosis. AKI and hyponatraemia are major determinants of the poor prognosis in advanced cirrhosis. The hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) denotes a functional and potential reversible impairment of renal function. Type 1 HRS, a special type of AKI, is a rapidly progressive AKI, whereas the renal function in type 2 HRS decreases more slowly. HRS is precipitated by factors such as sepsis that aggravate the effective hypovolaemia in decompensated cirrhosis, by lowering arterial pressure and cardiac output and enhanced sympathetic nervous activity. Therefore, attempts to prevent and treat HRS should seek to improve liver function and to ameliorate arterial hypotension, central hypovolaemia and cardiac output, and to reduce renal vasoconstriction. Ample treatment of HRS is important to prevent further progression and death, but as medical treatment only modestly improves long-term survival, these patients should always be considered for liver transplantation. Hyponatraemia, defined as serum sodium <130 mmol/L, is common in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. From a pathophysiological point of view, hyponatraemia is related to an impairment of renal solute-free water excretion most likely caused by an increased vasopressin secretion. Patients with cirrhosis mainly develop hypervolaemic hyponatraemia. Current evidence does not support routine use of vaptans in the management of hyponatraemia in cirrhosis.

Renal dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis: Where do we stand?

Patients with cirrhosis and renal failure are high-risk patients who can hardly be grouped to form precise instructions for diagnosis and treatment. When it comes to evaluate renal function in patients with cirrhosis, determination of acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD) or AKI on CKD should be made. First it should be excluded the prerenal causes of AKI. All cirrhotic patients should undergo renal ultrasound for measurement of renal resistive index in every stage of liver dysfunction and urine microscopy for differentiation of all causes of AKI. If there is history of dehydration on the ground of normal renal ultrasound and urine microscopy the diuretics should be withdrawn and plasma volume expansion should be tried with albumin. If the patient does not respond, the correct diagnosis is HRS. In case there is recent use of nephrotoxic agents or contrast media and examination shows shock, granular cast in urinary sediment and proteinuria above 0.5 g daily, acute tubular necrosis is the prominent diagnosis. Renal biopsy should be performed when glomerular filtration rate is between 30-60 mL/min and there are signs of parenchymal renal disease. The acute renal function is preferable to be assessed with modified AKIN. Patients with AKIN stage 1 and serum creatinine ≥ 1.5 mg/dL should be at close surveillance. Management options include hemodynamic monitoring and management of fluid balance and infections, potentially driving to HRS. Terlipressin is the treatment of choice in case of established HRS, administered until there are signs of improvement, but not more than two weeks. Midodrine is the alternative for therapy continuation or when terlipressin is unavailable. Norepinephrine has shown similar effect with terlipressin in patients being in Intensive Care Unit, but with much lower cost than that of terlipressin. If the patient meets the requirements for transplantation, dialysis and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt are the bridging therapies to keep the transplant candidate in the best clinical status. The present review clarifies the latest therapeutic modalities and the proposed recommendations and algorithms in order to be applied in clinical practice.

Review article: advances in the management of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension-related renal dysfunction

BACKGROUND

In cirrhosis, portal hypertension is associated with a spectrum of renal dysfunction that has significant implications for morbidity and mortality.

AIM

To discuss recent progress in the patho-physiological mechanisms and therapeutic options for portal hypertension-related renal dysfunction.

METHODS

A literature search using Pubmed was performed.

RESULTS

Portal hypertension-related renal dysfunction occurs in the setting of marked neuro-humoral and circulatory derangement. A systemic inflammatory response is a pathogenetic factor in advanced disease. Such physiological changes render the individual vulnerable to further deterioration of renal function. Patients are primed to develop acute kidney injury when exposed to additional 'hits', such as sepsis. Recent progress has been made regarding our understanding of the aetiopathogenesis. However, treatment options once hepatorenal syndrome develops are limited, and prognosis remains poor. Various strategies to prevent acute kidney injury are suggested.

CONCLUSION

Prevention of acute kidney injury in high risk patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension-related renal dysfunction should be a clinical priority.

Hepatorenal syndrome and novel advances in its management

Hepatorenal syndrome is a complication of end stage liver disease. It is a unique form of functional renal failure related to kidney vasoconstriction in the absence of underlying kidney pathology. Hepatorenal syndrome is classified into 2 types: type-1 HRS shows a rapid and progressive decline in renal function with a very poor prognosis (median survival of about 2 weeks); type-2 HRS has a more stable kidney failure, with a median survival of 6 months; its main clinical manifestation is refractory ascites. The most appropriate therapy for HRS is liver transplantation but only a minority of HRS patients undergo the procedure due to the high mortality; survival among liver transplant recipients is lower in HRS than among their counterparts without HRS. A large body of evidence, based on observational studies and randomized controlled trials, has been accumulated in the last decade showing that terlipressin represents a milestone in the management of HRS. According to our meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing terlipressin vs. placebo (five trials, n=243 patients), the pooled rate of patients who reversed HRS by terlipressin was 8.09 (95% CI, 3.52; 18.59) (P<0.001). Among vasoconstrictors, terlipressin (a V1 vasopressin agonist) is the most widely used; however, noradrenaline is another good choice. Vasoconstrictor drugs alone or with albumin reduce mortality compared with no intervention or albumin (RR of mortality, 0.82; 95% Confidence Intervals, 0.70; 0.96) (P<0.01). Two series of patients with HRS recurrence after the first treatment have recently shown that long-term therapy with terlipressin and albumin is beneficial as a bridge to liver transplant. Nevertheless, recovery of renal function can be achieved in less than 50% of patients with HRS after terlipressin use and the recovery of renal function may also be partial in patients who are defined full responders. Renal replacement therapy should not be considered a first-line therapy for HRS Clinical trials are under way in order to assess efficacy and safety of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of type-1 and type-2 HRS.

[Hepatorenal syndrome: focus]

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a severe complication of cirrhosis. It develops as a result of abnormal hemodynamics, leading to systemic vasodilatation and renal vasoconstriction. Increased bacterial translocation, various cytokines and systemic inflammatory response system contribute to splanchnic vasodilatation, and altered renal autoregulation. An inadequate cardiac output with systolic incompetence increases the risk of renal failure. Type 1 HRS is usually initiated by a precipitating event associated with an exaggerated systemic inflammatory response, resulting in multiorgan failure. Vasoconstrictors are the basic treatment in patients with type 1 HRS; terlipressin is the superior agent. Norepinephrine can be used as an alternative. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt may be applicable in a small number of patients with type 1 HRS and in most patients with type 2 HRS. Liver transplantation is the definitive treatment for HRS. The decision to do simultaneous or sequential liver and kidney transplant remains controversial. In general, patients who need more than 8 to 12 weeks of pretransplant dialysis should be considered for combined liver-kidney transplantation.

Austrian consensus on the definition and treatment of portal hypertension and its complications (Billroth II)

In November 2004, the Austrian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (ÖGGH) held for the first time a consensus meeting on the definitions and treatment of portal hypertension and its complications in the Billroth-Haus in Vienna, Austria (Billroth I-Meeting). This meeting was preceded by a meeting of international experts on portal hypertension with some of the proponents of the Baveno consensus conferences (http://www.oeggh.at/videos.asp). The consensus itself is based on the Baveno III consensus with regard to portal hypertensive bleeding and the suggestions of the International Ascites Club regarding the treatment of ascites. Those statements were modified by new knowledge derived from the recent literature and also by the current practice of medicine as agreed upon by the participants of the consensus meeting. In October 2011, the ÖGGH organized the second consensus meeting on portal hypertension and its complications in Vienna (Billroth II-Meeting). The Billroth II-Guidelines on the definitions and treatment of portal hypertension and its complications take into account the developments of the last 7 years, including the Baveno-V update and several key publications.

Hepatorenal syndrome, MELD score and liver transplantation: an evolving issue with relevant implications for clinical practice

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a severe complication of cirrhosis that is associated with poor survival. A rapid diagnosis of HRS and a prompt initiation of the treatment with terlipressin and albumin are mandatory because this leads to an improvement of prognosis. This review covers the predictive value of HRS on 3-month mortality beyond the MELD score and its consequential impact on the prioritization policy to liver transplantation (LT). Moreover, it analyzes the impact of the response to pharmacological treatment on the MELD score, its possible delaying effect on the timing of LT, and suggests a way of overcoming the paradoxical effect of terlipressin and albumin on the priority to LT in responders. Finally, the review discusses the appropriate use of combined liver-kidney transplantation (CLKT) in patients with HRS who do not respond to treatment with terlipressin and albumin.

Hepatorenal syndrome

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is defined as a functional renal failure in patients with liver disease with portal hypertension and it constitutes the climax of systemic circulatory changes associated with portal hypertension. This term refers to a precisely specified syndrome featuring in particular morphologically intact kidneys, where regulatory mechanisms have minimised glomerular filtration and maximised tubular resorption and urine concentration, which ultimately results in uraemia. The syndrome occurs almost exclusively in patients with ascites. Type 1 HRS develops as a consequence of a severe reduction of effective circulating volume due to both an extreme splanchnic arterial vasodilatation and a reduction of cardiac output. Type 2 HRS is characterised by a stable or slowly progressive renal failure so that its main clinical consequence is not acute renal failure, but refractory ascites, and its impact on prognosis is less negative. Liver transplantation is the most appropriate therapeutic method, nevertheless, only a few patients can receive it. The most suitable “bridge treatments” or treatment for patients ineligible for a liver transplant include terlipressin plus albumin. Terlipressin is at an initial dose of 0.5-1 mg every 4 h by intravenous bolus to 3 mg every 4 h in cases when there is no response. Renal function recovery can be achieved in less than 50% of patients and a considerable decrease in renal function may reoccur even in patients who have been responding to therapy over the short term. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt plays only a marginal role in the treatment of HRS.

Management of critically-ill cirrhotic patients

Cirrhotic patients are prone to develop life-threatening complications that require emergency care and ICU admission. They can present specific decompensations related to cirrhosis such as variceal bleeding and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) or other critical events also observed in the general population such as severe sepsis or septic shock. Clinical management of all these entities requires a specific approach in cirrhosis. Cirrhotic patients have a hyperdynamic circulation with high cardiac output and low systemic vascular resistance in the absence of infection. Circulatory dysfunction increases the susceptibility of critically-ill cirrhotic patients to develop multiple organ failure and attenuates vascular reactivity to vasopressor drugs. HRS, a severe functional renal failure occurring in patients with advanced cirrhosis and ascites, is also secondary to this circulatory dysfunction that leads to an extreme renal vasoconstriction. Moreover, hypotensive cirrhotic patients require a carefully balanced replacement of volemia, since overtransfusion increases portal hypertension and the risk of variceal bleeding and undertransfusion causes tissue hypoperfusion which increases the risk of multiple organ failure. Cirrhotic patients are also at a high risk for development of other bleeding complications and are more susceptible to nosocomial infections. This extreme complexity of critically-ill cirrhotic patients requires a specific medical approach that should be known by general intensivists since it has a negative impact on patient prognosis. This review will focus on the diagnostic approach and treatment strategies currently recommended in the critical care management of patients with cirrhosis.

Recent advances in our understanding of hepatorenal syndrome

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a serious complication of advanced cirrhosis with ascites. HRS develops as a result of abnormal haemodynamics, leading to splanchnic and systemic vasodilatation, but renal vasoconstriction. Increased bacterial translocation, various cytokines and mesenteric angiogenesis also contribute to splanchnic vasodilatation, and altered renal autoregulation is involved in the renal vasoconstriction. Type 1 HRS is usually initiated by a precipitating event associated with an exaggerated systemic inflammatory response that perturbs haemodynamics, resulting in multiorgan failure. An inadequate cardiac output with systolic incompetence increases the risk of renal failure. Vasoconstrictors are the main treatment in patients with type 1 HRS; terlipressin is the superior agent. Norepinephrine is similar to terlipressin in efficacy and can be used as an alternative. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt might be applicable in a small number of patients with type 1 HRS and in most patients with type 2 HRS. Liver transplantation is the definitive treatment for HRS, and should be performed after reversal of HRS. In nonresponders to vasoconstrictor therapy, much controversy still exists as to whether to do simultaneous or sequential liver and kidney transplant. In general, patients who have had >8-12 weeks of pretransplant dialysis should be considered for combined liver-kidney transplantation.