Response to Terlipressin and Albumin Is Associated With Improved Liver Transplant Outcomes in Patients With Hepatorenal Syndrome

Although terlipressin and albumin are effective in treating acute kidney injury-hepatorenal syndrome (AKI-HRS), liver transplantation (LT) is the best treatment. However, it is unclear if an effective treatment with terlipressin and albumin improves post-LT outcomes in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of response to treatment with terlipressin and albumin on posttransplant outcomes in patients with AKI-HRS. We analyzed 2 cohorts of patients with cirrhosis listed for LT between 2012 and 2016: 82 patients who developed AKI-HRS before LT and were treated with terlipressin and albumin and 259 patients without AKI-HRS who received transplants during the study period (control group). After LT, patients were followed up until discharge and every month for the first 3 months and every 3 months thereafter. Of the patients, 43 (52%) responded to terlipressin and albumin. Responders had a better 30-day transplant-free survival (60% vs. 33%; P = 0.006), longer LT waiting list time (37 vs. 17 days; P = 0.041), and lower Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score at the time of LT (23 vs. 29; P = 0.007). Among patients with AKI-HRS receiving transplant, non-responders required renal replacement therapy (RRT) more frequently than responders (20% vs. 0%; P = 0.024). Non-responders had a significantly higher incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) at 1 year after LT than responders (65% vs. 31%; P = 0.019). In multivariate analysis, non-response to terlipressin and albumin was found to be an independent predictor for CKD at 1 year after LT (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] = 2.76; P = 0.001), whereas responders did not have an increased risk (SHR = 1.53; P = 0.210). Conclusion: In patients with AKI-HRS, response to terlipressin and albumin reduces the need for RRT after LT and reduces the risk of CKD at 1 year after LT.