Abstract
Background and Aims
Terlipressin infusion is effective in hepatorenal syndrome (HRS-AKI). However, its efficacy for HRS-AKI resolution in acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients has been suboptimal. Progression of AKI is rapid in ACLF. We investigated whether early initiation of terlipressin(eTerli) can improve response rates.
Methods
Consecutive ACLF patients with stage II/III AKI despite albumin resuscitation (40 g) were randomized to receive terlipressin at 2 mg/24 h plus albumin at 12 h (ET, n = 35) or at 48 h as standard therapy (ST, n = 35). (June 22, 2020 to June 10, 2022). The primary end-point was AKI reversal by day7.
Results
Baseline parameters including AKI stage and ACLF-AARC scores in two arms were comparable. Full AKI response at day 7 was higher in ET [24/35 (68.6%)] than ST arm [11/35 (31.4%; P 0.03]. Day3 AKI response was also higher in ET arm [11/35 (31.4%) vs. 4/35 (11.4%), P 0.04]. Using ST compared to ET [HR 4.3; P 0.026] and day 3 serum creatinine > 1.6 mg/dl [HR 9.1; AUROC-0.866; P < 0.001] predicted HRS-AKI non-response at day 7. ET patients showed greater improvement in ACLF grade, mean arterial pressure, and urine output at day 3, and required lower albumin within 7 days than ET arm (149.1 ± 41.8 g vs. 177.5 ± 40.3 g, P 0.006) and had lower 28-day mortality: 40% vs. 65.7%, P 0.031]. Early use of terlipressin than ST [HR 2.079; P 0.038], baseline HE [HR 2.929; P 0.018], and AKI persistence at day 3 [HR 1.369; P 0.011] predicted 28-day mortality. Fifteen (21.4%) patients had treatment related adverse effects, none was life threatening.
Conclusion
In ACLF patients, early initiation of terlipressin for AKI persisting after 12 h of volume expansion with albumin helps in reduced short-term mortality and early AKI reversal with regression of ACLF stage. These results indicate need for change in current practice for terlipressin usage in HRS-AKI.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- ACLF:
-
Acute on chronic liver failure
- AKI:
-
Acute kidney injury
- CI:
-
Confidence interval
- CVP:
-
Central venous pressure
- DC:
-
Decompensated cirrhosis
- HE:
-
Hepatic encephalopathy
- HR:
-
Hazard ratio
- HRS:
-
Hepatorenal syndrome
- ICA:
-
International Club of Ascites
- IL:
-
Interleukin
- IQR:
-
Interquartile range
- IVC:
-
Inferior vena cava
- MAP:
-
Mean arterial pressure
- MELD:
-
Model for End-Stage Liver Disease
- OR:
-
Odds ratio
- PPA:
-
Per-protocol analysis
- RCT:
-
Randomized controlled trial
- RRT:
-
Renal replacement therapy
- SBP:
-
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
- sCr:
-
Serum creatinine
- ET:
-
Early terlipressin
- ST:
-
Standard terlipressin
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The paper was presented as a plenary presentation at the AASLD 2022.
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AJ, SKS: Conceptualization (lead); writing—original draft (lead); writing—review and editing (equal). AJ: Data analysis (equal) HT: Patient enrollment (lead) GK: Data analysis (equal) VA, RV, RM, HT, CV: review and editing (equal).
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Jindal, A., Singh, H., Kumar, G. et al. Early Versus Standard Initiation of Terlipressin for Acute Kidney Injury in ACLF: A Randomized Controlled Trial (eTerli Study). Dig Dis Sci (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-024-08423-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-024-08423-8