Intravenous N-Acetylcysteine and Oral Misoprostol in Combination May be Effective in Treating Hepatorenal Syndrome

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-2023

Publication Title

American Journal of Gastroenterology

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is an ominous complication of de-compensated cirrhosis and the only curative treatment remains liver transplantation. We report our experience in treating 8 patients with de-compensated cirrhosis and acute kidney injury (AKI) 2-3, with a combination of intravenous N-acetylcysteine infusion (NAC) and oral misoprostol. NAC infusion has been reported to reverse HRS in 12 patients with a 3-month survival rate of 58% (Holt, Lancet, 1999). Oral misoprostol and albumin infusions have been used to temporarily reverse HRS in 4 patients (Fevery, J Hepatology, 1990). In a prospective randomized control trial, NAC infusion have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of HRS by 50% (Nguyen-Khac, NEJM, 2011). Methods: AKI was defined by the ICA-AKI criteria of 2015, 6 patients had AKI-3, 2 patients had AKI-2. One patient had preexisting chronic kidney disease stage 3a. All patients had de-compensated cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis in 7 patients and NASH-cardiac cirrhosis in 1 patient (BMI 50, EF 20%). Three patients had prior episodes of AKI that were treated successfully with NAC. Five patients were classified as acute on chronic liver failure type 3. Four patients had a total bilirubin (TB) more than 15 mg/dL, 3 patients had a TB more than 20 mg/dl. Five patients failed to respond to albumin infusions before NAC administration. Three patients failed octreotide and midodrine before NAC infusion. NAC was used at a dose of 100 mgs/kg infused over 24 hours. Two patients received a loading dose of 150 mgs/kg over 2 hours. Seven of 8 patients also received misoprostol 100 ugs 3-4 x a day. Results: Mean age of the patients was 48 614. There were 7 men and 1 woman in the study. Results are shown in Table 1 and Figure 1 below. Five patients responded to NAC without getting albumin infusions during NAC treatment. All patients survived the hospitalization and were discharged home. One patient died 28 days after discharge, and another patient died 11 months after discharge. One patient received a liver transplant 10 weeks after discharge. Five remaining patients were alive without liver transplantation 6 months to 5 years after discharge. Conclusion: Intravenous NAC infusion and misoprostol in combination may be effective in treating hepato-renal syndrome that has not responded to albumin, octreotide, or midodrine. Further studies are warranted.

Volume

118

Issue

10S

First Page

S1205

Comments

American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting, October 20-25, 2023, Vancouver, Canada

Last Page

S1206

DOI

10.14309/01.ajg.0000956036.96125.4f

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