Renal vein dilation predicts poor outcome in patients with refractory cirrhotic ascites

Aim: Renal venous hypertension is known to be associated with worsening of renal function in patients with decompensated heart failure. Intra-abdominal hypertension including cirrhotic ascites also leads to renal venous hypertension. We aimed to clarify the effect of renal venous hypertension on cirrhotic ascites. Methods: Two hepatologists measured the left renal vein diameter in 142 consecutive patients with refractory cirrhotic ascites using non-contrast computed tomography. The renal vein diameter was measured at the renal vein main trunk and upstream of the confluence of collateral veins. Results: The inter-observer agreements were high for the measurements of the left renal vein (r = 0.918, P < 0.001). The median overall survival for patients with renal vein diameter ≥11 mm was less than that for patients with renal vein diameter <11 mm (P < 0.001; 2.5 vs. 32.0 months). One-year survival rates were 15.3% versus 66.4%. Multivariate analysis revealed renal vein diameter ≥11 mm (hazard ratio, 2.94; P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval, 1.67–5.20) and a high Model for End-stage Liver Disease score combined with serum sodium level (MELD-Na) (hazard ratio, 3.39; P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval, 2.00–5.74) were significant independent predictors of mortality. Conclusions: Renal vein dilation is a risk factor of mortality in patients with refractory cirrhotic ascites, independent of the MELD-Na score.