An open label, pilot, randomized controlled trial of noradrenaline versus terlipressin in the treatment of type 1 hepatorenal syndrome and predictors of response.

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is characterized by functional renal failure in end-stage liver disease. Terlipressin is the drug of choice for treating type 1 HRS (HRS-1). It is expensive and often not readily available. We, in an open label, randomized, pilot trial, compared the efficacy of terlipressin and noradrenaline on the renal functions and clinical outcome of patients with HRS-1 and also sought predictors of response. PATIENTS AND Forty consecutive patients with HRS-1 were randomized to receive noradrenaline 0.5-3.0 mg/h and