title: Portal hypertension and gastrointestinal bleeding.
abstract: Variceal bleeding is one of the most serious complications of portal hypertension. The driving force for the development of varices is an increase in portal pressure. As portal hypertension progresses, varices dilate until they finally rupture and bleed. This sequence of events might be prevented by achieving a sufficient decrease in portal pressure or by acting locally at the varices with endoscopic treatments. This article reviews the rationale for the management of portal hypertension and the current recommendations for the prevention and treatment of variceal bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Liver Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Spain. jbosch@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: Juan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Abraldes
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berzigotti
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Garcia-Pagan
mesh_terms: D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006490:Hemostatics