Hepatorenal syndrome: a review

The hepatorenal syndrome [HRS]is a reversible functional acute renal failure secondary to intense renal cortical vasoconstriction in a patient with liver disease. It affects around 40% of patients with cirrhosis and ascites1. The exact cause of the syndrome is not well understood. The state of liver dysfunction [Child-Pugh score] does not predict the occurrence of the disease. Genetic factors play no important role except as risk for liver disease and there is no sex difference. Patients with HRS characteristically have increased cardiac output, low arterial pressure, and reduced systemic vascular resistance. Diagnosis of HRS is one of exclusion. The definitive treatment is liver transplant. Nevertheless, a lot of work was done on medical therapy with promising results. Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Vol. 1(1) 2006: 59-6