 The hepatorenal syndrome is defined as a urine sodium less than 10 mmol/L and a serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dl (or 24 hour creatinine clearance less than 40 ml/min) after a trial of volume expansion without diuretics.People with ascites due to cirrhosis are at risk of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.This refers to changes in the mucosa of the stomach in people with portal hypertension, and is associated with cirrhosis severity.