Ascites reinfusion dialysis of refractory ascites as a bridge to kidney and liver transplantation in a patient on hemodialysis

To the Editor,

The treatment of refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis (LC) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) without residual renal function is difficult. Kidney and liver transplantation is the gold standard therapy. Several procedures based on reinfusion of ascitic fluid such as intravenous reinfusion of concentrated ascites, extracorporeal ultrafiltration of ascitic fluid with peritoneal reinfusion, and ascitic fluid concentration with blood reinfusion during hemodialysis (HD) have been reported [1-4]. We herein describe an interesting case of ascites reinfusion dialysis that was performed as a bridge to kidney and liver transplantation.

A 41-year-old man presented with intradialytic hypotension and refractory ascites due to decompensated LC. He was scheduled to undergo kidney and liver transplantation. For effective HD, continuous flow control reinfusion of ascitic fluid into a dialyzer was designed to prevent intradialytic hypotension and control ultrafiltration [2]. A set of dialysis tubing was connected with the sterile three-way stopcock to draw out the ascites at the speed of 500 mL/hr into the dialyzer to mix with the blood by the roller pump. Next, the mixed blood and ascites were infused into the systemic circulation during a HD session. The ultrafiltration rate of the dialyzer was maintained at approximately 1 L/hr to allow fluid removal from the blood and infused ascites in each 4-hour HD session. He underwent six sessions of ascites reinfusion dialysis over 3 weeks, after which he received a successful kidney and liver transplant. Changes in body weight and laboratory data of the patient are shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 1.

Changes in clinical data. Body weight changes in each hemodialysis (HD) session (A) and serum albumin levels (B) are shown before and after ascites reinfusion dialysis into the dialyzer during HD.

There are several important clinical implications of ascites reinfusion dialysis into the dialyzer. First, this procedure was performed in order to remove adequate fluid without intradialytic hypotension. Second, the serum albumin level increased after this procedure. In this method, elevated serum albumin level might be due to the infused protein of the ascites into the systemic circulation during HD. As a result, increased serum oncotic pressure might have pulled the interstitial fluid into the intravascular space [5]. Third, although not observed in our case, the potential adverse outcomes should be kept in mind. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis can occur, so we performed ascitic fluid analysis and prescribed empirical antibiotics with a third generation cephalosporin to prevent peritonitis. Forth, the patient can develop hepatic encephalopathy with sluggish speech and flapping tremors despite receiving lactulose. Because of these adverse effects, we could not perform aggressive ascites reinfusion dialysis. Therefore, we believe that ascites reinfusion dialysis into the dialyzer may be an alternative method as a bridge to kidney and liver transplantation.