title: [Propranolol in children and adolescents with portal hypertension: its dosage and the clinical, cardiovascular and biochemical effects].
abstract: An adequate propranolol dose to reduce 25% the initial heart rate was searched in 19 children with portal hypertension. 13 were pre-hepatic and 6 hepatic hypertension, mean age: 6.96 +/- 3.48 years, range: 2-14 years. Treatment was started with 0.5 mg/kg/day increasing 0.25 mg/kg/day every third day, needing an average of 26 +/- 13 days (range: 6-54 days) to obtain the response. Daily dose ranged from 1 to 5.25 mg/kg/day (mean: 2.69 +/- 1.16). The highest daily dose was 175 mg, the lowest 23.4 mg (mean: 58.27 +/- 36.6 mg/day). Some parameters were evaluated before and after achieving the dose. There was a significant reduction of mean blood pressure (p < 0.01) and peripheral venous pressure (p < 0.05) in 68.4% of patients. A significant elevation (p < 0.001) of 24 hour urinary catecholamine levels occurred in 94.7%. Side effects were minimal. Propranolol could be considered a safe pharmacological option in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría, Universidad de Carabobo, Hospital Central de Valencia.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: de Kolster
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rapa de Higuera
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carvajal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Callegari
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kolster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D011433:Propranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D011433:Propranolol
vernacular_title: Propranolol en niños y adolescentes con hipertensión portal: dosis, efectos clínicos, cardiovasculares y bioquímicos.