Clinical study on the therapeutic role of midodrine in non azotemic cirrhotic patients with tense ascites: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial.

BACKGROUND Midodrine is an α-agonist prodrug of desglymidodrine used for the management of hypotension. Midodrine has demonstrated usefulness in hepatorenal syndrome. OBJECTIVE The objective of the present work was to study the role of midodrine in patients with non-azotemic cirrhosis with tense ascites. METHODS This prospective randomized double blind placebo-controlled study was conducted on 67 non azotemic inpatients with liver cirrhosis and tense ascites (52 men and 15 women; age range, 45-72). One patient declined to participate in the study, 33 patients were randomly assigned to take midodrine hydrochloride, and 33 patients were randomly assigned to take placebo. Out of 67 enrolled patients, 60 patients (30: in midodrine group; 30: in placebo group) completed the study and 6 patients lost to follow up. Patients were assessed for patients’ characteristics, history of tapping their ascetic fluid, laboratory values, and Doppler parameters before and after the study. Average 24-h urine volume was assessed before and after the start of the study. RESULTS significant reduction in body weight and abdominal girth was observed after 2 weeks of midodrine therapy. CONCLUSION Midodrine appeared to be effective in lowering body weights and abdominal girths of non azotemic cirrhotic patients with tense ascites.