title: Absolute ethanol and 5% ethanolamine oleate are comparable for sclerotherapy of esophageal varices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic sclerotherapy is widely accepted as an effective treatment for the eradication of esophageal varices in patients with portal hypertension and a history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of absolute ethanol as an alternative sclerosing agent to the commonly used 5% ethanolamine oleate.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-seven patients with portal hypertension and a history of variceal bleeding were randomly assigned to sclerotherapy with absolute ethanol (n = 66) or 5% ethanolamine oleate (n = 91) between January 1992 and July 1994. Once eradication was achieved, these patients were prospectively followed until September 1998.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sclerotherapy with both sclerosants resulted in similar eradication rates (approximately 90%), with comparable numbers of sessions required for eradication (5.4 and 5.9 sessions for absolute ethanol and 5% ethanolamine oleate, respectively). Similar complication and recurrent bleeding rates were observed among both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sclerotherapy with absolute ethanol is as effective as with 5% ethanolamine oleate in preventing further bleeding in patients with portal hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Endoscopy Unit-Gastrocentro, Department of Surgery, Medical Genetics and Discipline of Clinical Gastroenterology, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Meirelles-Santos
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Callejas-Neto
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Magna
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zeitune
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Brandalise
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ferraz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019856:Ethanolamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019233:Retreatment; D015911:Sclerotherapy
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D019856:Ethanolamine