Renal blood flow and liver inflammation in the hepatorenal syndrome

Abstract

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a relatively common complication of cirrhosis and occurrs in 39% of cirrhosis patients within five years since the diagnosis has been made. Generally accepted theory is that blood vessels of kidneys constrict because of the dilation of blood vessels in the visceral circulation, which is caused by factors of the liver disease. Histamine, prostaglandins, and nitrous oxide (NO) affects unstriated muscle structure of vessels, causing the dilation of blood vessels, which increases the blood flow and circulating leukocytes in it. But the role of inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of hepatorenal syndrome is still under the study.