Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a functional renal failure due to intense renal vasoconstriction that frequently develops in patients with cirrhosis. Past studies reported that in almost half of the cases of HRS, one or more precipitating factors can be identified. We conducted a study to determine the Precipitating factors and outcome of hepatorenal Syndrome in liver cirrhosis.
This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in tertiary care centre. A total of 62 consecutive patients admitted with HRS were included in this study. All adult patients admitted with diagnosis chronic liver disease with hepatorenal syndrome after applying exclusion criteria. The precipitants of HRS were correlated with the type of HRS; length of hospital stay and mortality.
Among the 62 subjects, 52% were alcoholics who were predominantly male and they had alcoholic cirrhosis. 21% and 16% were affected by hepatitis B and C respectively. Remaining 11% of them had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Bacterial infection and Large volume paracentesis had the longest duration of stay 16 ± 2 days and 12 deaths, GI bleed was around 12 ± 1 days and 4 deaths, ug induced HRS had 8 ± 2 days and 2 deaths, unknown factors were 5 ± 2 days.
Patients presenting with two or more precipitating factors and advanced grade of HE had a prolonged hospital stay and increased mortality rate. Spontaneous bacterial infection was the most common precipitating factor at our centre. References Ginès A, Escorsell A, Ginès P, et al. Incidence, predictive factors, and prognosis of the hepatorenal syndrome in cirrhosis with ascites. Gastroenterology 1993;105(1):229-236. Arroyo V, Ginès P, Alexander L, et al. Definition and diagnostic criteria of refractory ascites and hepatorenal syndrome in cirrhosis. International Ascites Club. Hepatology 1996;23(1):164- 176.

© Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 2011.