Terlipressin for variceal bleeding induces large plasma sodium fluctuations in patients without cirrhosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Terlipressin is used as pharmacological treatment for variceal bleeding. The drug's physiological effect favours hyponatremia, and rapid changes in plasma sodium (PNa) may cause brain injury. Cirrhosis patients seem to be largely protected against this effect but patients without cirrhosis may not be so.

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine whether terlipressin treatment of patients without cirrhosis leads to more serious fluctuations in PNa than in cirrhosis.

Methods

In a retrospective cohort design, during a 39-month period, 11 patients with prehepatic portal hypertension and no cirrhosis and 134 patients with cirrhosis received a minimum cumulative terlipressin dose of 4 mg during at least 24 hours for variceal bleeding. The groups' PNa c

SUBMITTER: Eriksen PL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6169052 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature