Endothelin Receptor Antagonism With Ambrisentan to Treat Hepatorenal Syndrome

Summary

Patients with advanced cirrhosis of the liver develop kidney problems occasionally. This condition is called Hepatorenal Syndrome, requires hospitalization and frequently results in death. The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether the administration of low doses of ambrisentan can help patients with Hepatorenal Syndrome and to determine if it is safe. Ambrisentan is a drug that is approved for the treatment of high blood pressure in the lungs at higher doses. This clinical trial will compare the safety and effects of ambrisentan to another drug called terlipressin, which is commonly used to treat patients with hepatorenal syndrome. The main questions the clinical trial aims to answer are: * Does ambrisentan help the kidney function of the patient? * Does ambrisentan help prevent death in patients with Hepatorenal Syndrome? * Does ambrisentan prevent Hepatorenal Syndrome from reappearing? While in the hospital, trial participants will receive either one of two doses of ambrisentan or terlipressin. If in the first 4 days, ambrisentan is not helpful, the patient may be eligible to receive terlipressin. Patients assigned to receive ambrisentan will continue taking this medication at home after leaving the hospitals and until they complete 60 days of treatment.

Timeline

Start

2024-04-17

Primary completion

2026-05

Completion

2026-06

Publications

• Background Angeli P, Gines P, Wong F, Bernardi M, Boyer TD, Gerbes A, Moreau R, Jalan R, Sarin SK, Piano S, Moore K, Lee SS, Durand F, Salerno F, Caraceni P, Kim WR, Arroyo V, Garcia-Tsao G; International Club of Ascites. Diagnosis and management of acute kidney injury in patients with cirrhosis: revised consensus recommendations of the International Club of Ascites. Gut. 2015 Apr;64(4):531-7. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2014-308874. Epub 2015 Jan 28. No abstract available.
• Background Soper CP, Latif AB, Bending MR. Amelioration of hepatorenal syndrome with selective endothelin-A antagonist. Lancet. 1996 Jun 29;347(9018):1842-3. No abstract available.
• Background Mindikoglu AL, Weir MR. Current concepts in the diagnosis and classification of renal dysfunction in cirrhosis. Am J Nephrol. 2013;38(4):345-54. doi: 10.1159/000355540. Epub 2013 Oct 5.
• Background Ring-Larsen H. Renal blood flow in cirrhosis: relation to systemic and portal haemodynamics and liver function. Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 1977 Nov;37(7):635-42. doi: 10.3109/00365517709100657.
• Background Moore K. Endothelin and vascular function in liver disease. Gut. 2004 Feb;53(2):159-61. doi: 10.1136/gut.2003.024703.
• Background Moore K, Wendon J, Frazer M, Karani J, Williams R, Badr K. Plasma endothelin immunoreactivity in liver disease and the hepatorenal syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1992 Dec 17;327(25):1774-8. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199212173272502.
• Background Zipprich A, Gittinger F, Winkler M, Dollinger MM, Ripoll C. Effect of ET-A blockade on portal pressure and hepatic arterial perfusion in patients with cirrhosis: A proof of concept study. Liver Int. 2021 Mar;41(3):554-561. doi: 10.1111/liv.14757. Epub 2021 Jan 5.
• Background Dhaun N, Macintyre IM, Melville V, Lilitkarntakul P, Johnston NR, Goddard J, Webb DJ. Blood pressure-independent reduction in proteinuria and arterial stiffness after acute endothelin-a receptor antagonism in chronic kidney disease. Hypertension. 2009 Jul;54(1):113-9. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.109.132670. Epub 2009 Jun 8.
• Background Wong F, Moore K, Dingemanse J, Jalan R. Lack of renal improvement with nonselective endothelin antagonism with tezosentan in type 2 hepatorenal syndrome. Hepatology. 2008 Jan;47(1):160-8. doi: 10.1002/hep.21940.

Drugs

Indications