title: The effects of selective and non-selective adrenoceptor blockade on the portal blood flow in patients with liver cirrhosis.
abstract: The effects of different types of adrenoceptor blocking agents on portal venous blood flow were studied in 10 patients with liver cirrhosis by using a duplex Doppler system. Oral atenolol (selective beta 1 blocker), propranolol (non-selective beta blocker), and labetalol (non-selective adrenoceptor blocker) were compared. The drugs were administered at random at an interval of 3 days or more. Hemodynamic measurements were done before and after 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h of therapy. Atenolol and propranolol produced significant decrease in the portal vein cross-sectional area, portal blood velocity, and estimated volume of the portal blood flow. The portal blood velocity decreased by 13.1 +/- 7.2% 3 h after atenolol and by 16.2 +/- 6.5% 3 h after propranolol administration (p less than 0.05). Labetalol had no significant influence on portal venous hemodynamics. These results support the hypothesis that a decrease in portal venous flow induced by beta blockers is at least partly mediated with alpha-adrenergic receptors.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zagreb, Dr. Josip Kajfes General Hospital, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ljubicić
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bilić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007741:Labetalol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011168:Portal System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D013565:Sympatholytics; D001262:Atenolol; D011433:Propranolol; D007741:Labetalol