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Background Portal hypertension, which occurs as a consequence of liver cirrhosis, leads to splenic vasodilatation and alterations in the systemic circulation. Arterial vasodilatation in the splanchnic circulation appears to play a central role in hemodynamic changes and in the decline in renal function in cirrhosis. Peripheral vasodilatation, which occurs as a part of alterations in the systemic circulation, may decrease the renal blood flow and subsequently raise plasma renin activity. Midodrine is a α agonist and acts as a peripheral vasoconstrictor; therefore, it may reduce plasma renin activity and improve renal function. Aim of the work The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between renal resistive indices (RIs) in cirrhotic patients before and after oral administration of 7.5 mg midodrine three times daily for 3 days. Patients and methods The study was conducted on 40 patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites and on 40 healthy controls from October 2014 to March 2015 at Al-Azhar University Hospital, Assiut, where all patients were subjected to history and clinical examination as well as to routine investigations such as total bilirubin, albumin, international normalized ratio, and serum creatinine. Patients underwent an abdominal ultrasound with duplex Doppler examination of the kidneys, and RI was calculated before and 3 days after oral intake of midodrine. Results Patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites had significantly higher RI in the right kidney (0.69 ± 0.101 vs. 0.57 ± 0.055,P < 0.001) and in the left kidney (0.69 ± 0.097 vs. 0.59 ± 0.047,P < 0.001) compared with healthy controls. After oral administration of midodrine for 3 days, RI showed significant improvement (RI = 0.928,P < 0.001) in the right kidney and in the left kidney (R = 0.993,P < 0.001). RI had significant positive correlation with Child–Pugh score (R = 0.75,P < 0.001, in the right kidney and R = 0.75,P < 0.001, in the left kidney) and significant positive correlation with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score (R = 0.536,P < 0.008, in the right kidney and R = 0.487,P < 0.005, in the left kidney). Conclusion Oral midodrine improved renal hemodynamics as assessed by RI in cirrhotic patients. RI is correlated with severity of liver disease as assessed by Child–Pugh and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores. |
