Hepatorenal syndromeCirrhosis - hepatorenal; Liver failure - hepatorenal
Hepatorenal syndrome is a condition in which there is progressive kidney failure. It occurs in a person with cirrhosis of the liver. It is a serious complication that can lead to death.
Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.Read Article Now Book Mark Article
Hepatorenal syndrome occurs when the kidneys stop working well in people with serious liver problems. Less urine is removed from the body, so waste products that contain nitrogen build up in the bloodstream (azotemia).
Prerenal azotemia is an abnormally high level of nitrogen waste products in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article
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 kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your b...Read Article Now Book Mark Article
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
- Recent abdominal fluid tap (paracentesis)
- 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)
- 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 (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
BUN stands for blood urea nitrogen. Urea nitrogen is what forms when protein breaks down. A test can be done to measure the amount of urea nitrogen ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article
- Increased urine specific gravity and osmolality
Urine specific gravity
Urine specific gravity is a laboratory test that shows the concentration of all chemical particles in the urine.Read Article Now Book Mark Article
- 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)
Loss of brain function occurs when the liver is unable to remove toxins from the blood. This is called hepatic encephalopathy (HE). This problem ma...Read Article Now Book Mark Article
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)
The outcome is often poor. Death often occurs due to an infection or severe bleeding (hemorrhage).
Complications may include:
- 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.
Garcia-Tsao G. Cirrhosis and its sequelae. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 153.
Nevah MI, 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. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 94.
Review Date: 4/7/2018
Reviewed By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.