Ornipressin improves renal function in advanced hepatic cirrhosis

Effect of infusion of ornipressin, an analog of antidiuretic hormone that causes preferential splanchnic vasoconstriction, in patients with advanced hepatic cirrhosis and functional renal failure (the hepatorenal syndrome). Ornipressin raised the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from 18 to 29 mL/min, lowered the plasma renin activity from 28 to 14 (normal equals less than 3 ng/mL per hour on a regular salt intake), and raised the fraction of the cardiac output delivered to the kidneys from 2 to 5 percent (normal equals 20 percent). Each of these abnormalities was only partially corrected, although it is not known if a greater response would be seen with less severe disease or with a higher dose.