Impaired Renal Function May Not Negate the Efficacy of Tolvaptan in the Treatment of Cirrhotic Patients with Refractory Ascites.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Tolvaptan, an oral vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, has been widely used for the treatment of patients with cirrhosis and ascites. However, its efficacy in patients with renal dysfunction remains unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of tolvaptan in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and severe chronic kidney disease (s-CKD).

METHODS:

We studied 43 patients with liver cirrhosis who received tolvaptan (7.5 mg/day) for refractory ascites. s-CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2. Response to tolvaptan was defined as weight loss ≥ 1.5 kg in 7 days of treatment.

RESULTS:

Eighteen patients (42%) had s-CKD (s-CKD group), while the other 25 patients (58%) did not have s-CKD (n-CKD group). Rates of response to tolvaptan were similar: 68% in the n-CKD group and 56% in the s-CKD group. Urine volumes increased significantly from baseline to day 7 in both groups. Incidences of adverse events were also similar (P = 0.93). Mean eGFR did not decline even in the s-CKD group (27.3 ± 2.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 at baseline vs. 26.6 ± 2.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 on day 7; P = 0.9). The cumulative survival rate did not differ significantly between the n-CKD and s-CKD groups. In the s-CKD group, responders obtained a better prognosis than non-responders.

CONCLUSIONS:

Tolvaptan significantly increased urine volumes similarly in patients with s-CKD and n-CKD without affecting renal function. As responders achieved a better prognosis, tolvaptan could be a good option to treat ascites in patients with cirrhosis and s-CKD.

• Authors: Yoshitaka Arase, Tatehiro Kagawa, Kota Tsuruya, Hirohiko Sato, Erika Teramura, Kazuya Anzai, Shunji Hirose, Ryuzo Deguchi, Koichi Shiraishi, Tetsuya Mine
• Journal: Clinical drug investigation (Clin Drug Investig) Vol. 39 Issue 1 Pg. 45-54 (Jan 2019) ISSN: 1179-1918 [Electronic] New Zealand
• PMID: 30284699 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists
• Tolvaptan

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Ascites (drug therapy)
• Female
• Glomerular Filtration Rate
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis (drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Renal Insufficiency, Chronic (physiopathology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Tolvaptan (therapeutic use)