Diuretic therapy—the conventional treatment for hepatic oedema—is not always effective. A phase III trial has now shown that tolvaptan (7.5 mg daily) is effective as an add-on therapy for 7 days in the treatment of hepatic oedema associated with liver cirrhosis. Tolvaptan decreased body weight and improved lower-limb oedema and ascites-related symptoms in patients (n = 84) considerably more than placebo (n = 80). Tolvaptan also increased serum sodium concentration irrespective of the baseline level.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Sakida, I. et al. Tolvaptan for improvement of hepatic edema: A phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Hepatol. Res. doi:10.1111/hepr.12098
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Tolvaptan provides new hope for treating hepatic oedema. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 10, 320 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2013.83
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2013.83