Abstract: Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a critical complication of patients with advanced cirrhosis,  which is characterized by renal dysfunction,  hemodynamic changes and endogenous vascular substance abnormalities with the patients presenting  no substantial renal damage. It can significantly increase mortality in cirrhotic patients, which makes early diagnosis and timely treatment of HRS essential. Currently,  diagnosis of HRS is mainly based on serum creatinine criteria. Liver transplantation remains the only means of HRS. Further researches centered on its foundation and clinical manifestation should be conducted in the future so as to make some breakthrough.

Key words: hepatorenal syndrome, diagnosis, treatment