Hepatorenal Syndrome: Causes, Diagnosis, Symptoms and Treatments

Definition:

SHR – by its acronyms – is a form of renal failure that occurs in individuals with advanced liver disease. Individuals with this syndrome have no identifiable cause of renal dysfunction, and the kidneys are not structurally damaged.

Therefore, the hepatorenal syndrome can be referred to as a “functional” form of renal failure. If the kidney of an individual with hepatorenal syndrome were transplanted into a healthy individual, they would function normally.

Hepatorenal syndrome is classified into two different types.

Type I is a rapidly progressive disease that leads to kidney failure, while type II does not have a rapid course and progresses slowly for weeks or months.

Although the syndrome occurs in individuals with liver disease, the exact cause is unknown. Researchers have observed that blood circulation is abnormal in patients with hepatorenal syndrome.

The arteries that circulate oxygenated blood from the lungs to the rest of the body (systemic circulation) widen in contrast to the streets of the kidney, which narrow, causing a decrease in blood flow through the kidney.

Causes

This syndrome occurs when there is a decrease in renal function in an individual with a severe liver disorder. Because the elimination of urine from the body is scarce, the nitrogenous waste products pile up in the bloodstream.

 

The disorder occurs on average in 1 in 10 patients in the hospital due to liver failure.

This leads to kidney failure in people with:

  • Acute liver failure.
  • Alcoholic hepatitis
  • Cirrhosis.

Risk factors include:

  • Depending on the person’s position (orthostatic hypotension).
  • The use of diuretics (water pill).
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding.
  • Infection.

symptom

  • Abdominal swelling product to the liquid.
  • Change in mental state.
  • Confusion.
  • Delirium.
  • Muscle spasms.
  • Dark-colored urine.
  • Decrease in urine production.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Weight gain.
  • Yellow skin.

Tests and tests for diagnosis

This hepatorenal insufficiency is diagnosed when other types of renal failure are ruled out in the tests. Although the physical examination does not reveal kidney failure, it may show signs of chronic liver disease:

  • Unusual reflections.
  • Small testes
  • Noise in the abdominal area.
  • Increase of breast tissue.
  • Skin lesions

Treatment for hepatorenal syndrome

Some of the medications used to treat Hepatorenal Syndrome are: octreotide, midodrine, albumin, or dopamine can be used to optimize blood pressure and temporarily help the kidneys work better.

A non-surgical treatment, known as TIPS, is used to alleviate the symptoms of ascites and may help kidney function. Surgery to place a treatment called Levine that goes from the abdominal cavity to the jugular vein can appease several symptoms of kidney failure.