[Renal dysfunction in liver disease]

Abstract

In patients with liver disease various acute and chronic kidney disorders may occur, the most severe being a hepatorenal syndrome. It is usually found in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and the only effective treatment is liver transplantation. The other common causes of renal dysfunction are: prerenal (dehydration, hypovolemia) and renal (ischemia or nephrotoxicity) acute kidney injury. The most frequent chronic nephropathies are: glomerulonephritis and mixed cryoglobinemia due to viral hepatitis C and B. Finally, chronic liver disease has been associated with an increased risk of diabetic nephropathy.