[Prevention of digestive hemorrhage recurrence in hepatic cirrhosis with propranolol. A 4 years' follow-up study].
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of propranolol treatment on the recurrence of variceal bleeding and mortality in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Fifty seven patients were studied; they were recruited within 15 days of an episode of variceal bleeding, assigned randomly to receive propranolol (n = 29) placebo (n = 28) and followed during 4 years. Three patients were lost from follow up and in 3 propranolol was discontinued due to secondary effects. Bleeding recurrence was less frequent in the treated patients (Kaplan Meier analysis p < 0.01). Ten patients on placebo and 1 receiving the active drug died. Life table analysis showed a significantly better survival in the group of patients treated with propranolol. It is concluded that propranolol decreases the recurrence of variceal bleeding and improves survival in patients with hepatic cirrhosis.
Jirón
M I
MI
Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile.
Soto
J R
JR
Wolff
C
C
Armas
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence
D011433:Propranolol
Prevención de la recidiva de hemorragia digestiva en cirrosis hepática con propanolol. Seguimiento de cuatro años.