A Case of Hyponatraemic Seizure Following Terlipressin Therapy for a Variceal Hemorrhage in a Patient with Liver Cirrhosis.
10.3904/kjm.2014.87.3.323
- Author:
Jin Hee KIM
1
;
Ja Kyung KIM
;
So Yeong MUN
;
Chung Jo CHOI
;
Han Min PARK
;
Yong Seol JEONG
;
Jun Goo KANG
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea. kjg0804@empal.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Terlipressin;
Hyponatremia;
Seizure
- MeSH:
Arginine Vasopressin;
Esophageal and Gastric Varices;
Female;
Hemorrhage*;
Humans;
Hyponatremia;
Liver Cirrhosis*;
Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic;
Middle Aged;
Receptors, Vasopressin;
Seizures*;
Sodium
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2014;87(3):323-327
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Terlipressin has splanchnic vasoconstrictive effects, and is generally used for the management of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding secondary to liver cirrhosis. Terlipressin is a synthetic arginine vasopressin (AVP) analog containing a nonapeptide sequence. Terlipressin has increased selectivity for the V1 receptor, compared with AVP; hence, it is considered to be a safe vasoconstrictor. However, side effects such as hyponatremia and seizure, although very rare, have been reported. Hyponatremia related to terlipressin may be caused by the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD), which is a disorder of sodium and water balance characterized by hypotonic hyponatremia without elevation of the antidiuretic hormone level. Here, we report a case of hyponatremic seizure induced by an infusion of terlipressin in a 52-year-old female who had isolated gastric variceal bleeding secondary to alcoholic liver cirrhosis.
