title: Reduction of variceal pressure by propranolol: comparison of the effects on portal pressure and azygos blood flow in patients with cirrhosis.
abstract: This study investigated the correlation between changes in hepatic hemodynamics and esophageal variceal pressure--measured with a noninvasive, pressure-sensitive endoscopic gauge--in 37 portal-hypertensive cirrhotic patients receiving propranolol (0.15 mg/kg, intravenously; n = 21) or placebo (n = 16) under strict double-blind conditions. Placebo administration had no effect on hepatic venous pressure gradient, azygos blood flow or variceal pressure. Propranolol caused a significant reduction in hepatic venous pressure gradient (from 19.6 +/- 1 to 17.3 +/- 1 mm Hg, p < 0.001), azygos blood flow (from 0.61 +/- 0.06 to 0.39 +/- 0.03 L/min, p < 0.001) and variceal pressure (from 13.1 +/- 0.9 to 10.2 +/- 0.9 mm Hg, p < 0.001). In eight patients (propranolol nonresponders) hepatic venous pressure gradient was not modified or decreased by less than 10% after propranolol (mean change, -4.1 +/- 1.6%). However, we found no significant differences between propranolol responders and nonresponders with regard to the decrease in variceal pressure (3.3 +/- 0.7 vs. 2.3 +/- 1.4 mm Hg) and azygos blood flow (0.23 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.21 +/- 0.07 L/min). As expected, in most propranolol responders (11 of 13), reduction in hepatic venous pressure gradient was accompanied by a similar response in variceal pressure (> 10% decrease). However, among propranolol nonresponders, in terms of reduction in hepatic venous pressure gradient, four out of eight patients had decreases greater than 10% in variceal pressure. The results of this study confirm that reduction in hepatic venous pressure gradient by propranolol is associated with a significant decrease in variceal pressure and azygos blood flow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feu
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bordas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luca
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: García-Pagán
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Escorsell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodés
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001401:Azygos Vein / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017082:Portal Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D014690:Venous Pressure / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011433:Propranolol