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Updated: Oct 7, 2026

Invasive Hemodynamic Characterization of the Portal-hypertensive Syndrome in Cirrhotic Rats
Published on: August 1, 2018
[Biological factors influencing response to diuretics in patients with cirrhosis and ascites]
A Lenaerts1, T Codden, J P Henry
1Service Universitaire d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, CHU, Charleroi, B-6000 Belgique, Paris, France.
Purposes:
To examine the biological factors influencing response to diuretics in patients with cirrhosis and ascites.
Methods:
Sixty-nine patients were evaluated. Patients were classified into 3 groups: group 1: "good responders" (responding to spironolactone 200 mg/day), group 2: "bad responders" (responding to spironolactone doses above 200 mg/day or requiring addition of furosemide), and group 3: "non-responders" (not responding to spironolactone 400 mg/day and furosemide 160 mg/day).
Results:
There were 30 patients in group 1, 24 in group 2 and 15 in group 3. The degree of activation of the renin-aldosterone and sympathetic system in group 2 was significantly higher than in group 1 and lower than in group 3. Natriuresis in group 2 (11 +/- 0.7 mEq/24h) was significantly below group 1 (20 +/- 2 mEq/24h) and above group 3 (5 +/- 0.6 mEq/24h).
Conclusions:
In patients with cirrhosis and ascites, the degree of activation of the renin-aldosterone and sympathetic nervous system influences diuretic response of ascites and is estimated by measured baseline natriuresis.
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