Health Encyclopedia

Hepatorenal syndrome

Definition

Hepatorenal syndrome is a condition in which there is progressive kidney failure that occurs in a person with cirrhosis of the liver. It is a serious complication that can lead to death.

Alternative Names

Cirrhosis - hepatorenal; Liver failure - hepatorenal

Causes

Hepatorenal syndrome occurs when the kidneys stop working well in people with serious liver problems. Less urine is produced by the body, so waste products that contain nitrogen build up in the bloodstream (azotemia).

The disorder occurs in up to 1 in 10 people who are in the hospital with liver failure. It leads to kidney failure in people with:

Acute liver failure
Alcoholic hepatitis
Cirrhosis
Infected abdominal fluid (peritonitis)

Risk factors include:

Blood pressure that falls when a person rises or suddenly changes position (orthostatic hypotension)
Use of medicines called diuretics ("water pills")
Gastrointestinal bleeding
Infection
Recent abdominal fluid removal (paracentesis)

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

Abdominal swelling due to fluid (called ascites, a symptom of liver disease)
Mental confusion
Muscle jerks
Dark-colored urine (a symptom of liver disease)
Decreased urine output
Nausea and vomiting
Weight gain
Yellow skin (jaundice, a symptom of liver disease)

Exams and Tests

This condition is diagnosed after testing to rule out other causes of kidney failure.

A physical exam does not detect kidney failure directly. However, the exam will very often show signs of chronic liver disease, such as:

Confusion (often due to hepatic encephalopathy)
Excess fluid in the abdomen (ascites)
Jaundice
Other signs of liver failure

Other signs include:

Abnormal reflexes
Smaller testicles
Dull sound in the belly area when tapped with the tips of the fingers
Increased breast tissue in men (gynecomastia)
Sores (lesions) on the skin

The following may be signs of kidney failure:

Very little or no urine output
Fluid retention in the abdomen or extremities
Increased BUN and creatinine blood levels
Increased urine specific gravity and osmolality
Low blood sodium
Very low urine sodium concentration

The following may be signs of liver failure:

Abnormal prothrombin time (PT)
Increased blood ammonia level
Low blood albumin
Paracentesis shows ascites
Signs of hepatic encephalopathy (an EEG may be done)

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to help the liver work better and to make sure the heart is able to pump enough blood to the body.

Treatment is about the same as for kidney failure from any cause. It includes:

Stopping all unnecessary medicines, especially ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, certain antibiotics, and diuretics ("water pills")
Having dialysis to improve symptoms
Taking medicines to improve blood pressure and help your kidneys work better; infusion of albumin may also be helpful
Placing a shunt (known as TIPS) to relieve the symptoms of ascites (this may also help kidney function, but the procedure can be risky)
Surgery to place a shunt from the abdominal space to the jugular vein to relieve some symptoms of kidney failure (this procedure is risky and is rarely done)

Outlook (Prognosis)

The outcome is often poor. Death often occurs due to an infection or severe bleeding (hemorrhage).

Possible Complications

Complications may include:

Bleeding
Damage to, and failure of, many organ systems
End-stage kidney disease
Fluid overload and heart failure
Coma caused by liver failure
Secondary infections

When to Contact a Medical Professional

This disorder most often is diagnosed in the hospital during treatment for a liver disorder.

References

Fernandez J, Arroyo V. Hepatorenal syndrome. In: Feehally J, Floege J, Tonelli M, Johnson RJ, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 73.

Garcia-Tsao G. Cirrhosis and its sequelae. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 144.

Mehta SS, Fallon MB. Hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, hepatopulmonary syndrome, and other systemic complications of liver disease. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 94.

Review Date:5/4/2022
Reviewed By:Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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