Beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists(β-blockers) have been well established for use in portal hypertension for more than three decades. Different Non-selective β-blockers like propranolol, nadolol, timolol, atenolol...Beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists(β-blockers) have been well established for use in portal hypertension for more than three decades. Different Non-selective β-blockers like propranolol, nadolol, timolol, atenolol, metoprolol and carvedilol have been in clinical practice in patients with cirrhosis. Carvedilol has proven 2-4 times more potent than propranolol as a beta-receptor blocker in trials conducted testing its efficacy for heart failure. Whether the same effect extends to its potency in the reduction of portal venous pressures is a topic of on-going debate. The aim of this review is to compare the hemodynamic and clinical effects of carvedilol with propranolol, and attempt assess whether carvedilol can be used instead of propranolol in patients with cirrhosis. Carvedilol is a promising agent among the beta blockers of recent time that has shown significant effects in portal hypertension hemodynamics. It has also demonstrated an effective profile in its clinical application specifically for the prevention of variceal bleeding. Carvedilol has more potent desired physiological effects when compared to Propranolol. However, it is uncertain at the present juncture whether the improvement in hemodynamics also translates into a decreased rate of disease progression and complications when compared to propranolol. Currently Carvedilol shows promise as a therapy for portal hypertension but more clinical trials need to be carried out before we can consider it as a superior option and a replacement for propranolol.展开更多
Since the 1970s,non-selective beta-blockers(NSBB)have been used to prevent variceal upper bleeding in advanced cirrhotic patients.However,several recent studies have raised the doubt about the benefit of NSBB in end-s...Since the 1970s,non-selective beta-blockers(NSBB)have been used to prevent variceal upper bleeding in advanced cirrhotic patients.However,several recent studies have raised the doubt about the benefit of NSBB in end-stage cirrhotic patients.In fact,they suggested a detrimental effect in these patients that even reduced survival.All of these studies have been assembled to compose the“window therapy hypothesis”,in which NSBB would have traditional indication to be initiated to prevent variceal upper bleeding;however,treatment should be stopped(or not be initiated)in patients with end-stage cirrhosis.NSBB would reduce the cardiac reserve of these patients,worsening systemic perfusion and prognosis.However,it should be emphasized that these studies present important bias issues,and their results also suggested that diuretic treatment may also be behind the effects observed.In this opinion review,we changed the point of view from NSBB to diuretic treatment,based on a physiopathogenic approach of circulatory parameters of cirrhotic patients studied,and based on diuretic effect in blood pressure lowering and in other hypervolemic disease,as heart failure.We suggest a“diuretic window hypothesis”,composed by an open window in hypervolemic phase,an attention window when patient present in a normal plasma volume phase,and a closed window during the plasma hypovolemic phase.展开更多
文摘Beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists(β-blockers) have been well established for use in portal hypertension for more than three decades. Different Non-selective β-blockers like propranolol, nadolol, timolol, atenolol, metoprolol and carvedilol have been in clinical practice in patients with cirrhosis. Carvedilol has proven 2-4 times more potent than propranolol as a beta-receptor blocker in trials conducted testing its efficacy for heart failure. Whether the same effect extends to its potency in the reduction of portal venous pressures is a topic of on-going debate. The aim of this review is to compare the hemodynamic and clinical effects of carvedilol with propranolol, and attempt assess whether carvedilol can be used instead of propranolol in patients with cirrhosis. Carvedilol is a promising agent among the beta blockers of recent time that has shown significant effects in portal hypertension hemodynamics. It has also demonstrated an effective profile in its clinical application specifically for the prevention of variceal bleeding. Carvedilol has more potent desired physiological effects when compared to Propranolol. However, it is uncertain at the present juncture whether the improvement in hemodynamics also translates into a decreased rate of disease progression and complications when compared to propranolol. Currently Carvedilol shows promise as a therapy for portal hypertension but more clinical trials need to be carried out before we can consider it as a superior option and a replacement for propranolol.
文摘Since the 1970s,non-selective beta-blockers(NSBB)have been used to prevent variceal upper bleeding in advanced cirrhotic patients.However,several recent studies have raised the doubt about the benefit of NSBB in end-stage cirrhotic patients.In fact,they suggested a detrimental effect in these patients that even reduced survival.All of these studies have been assembled to compose the“window therapy hypothesis”,in which NSBB would have traditional indication to be initiated to prevent variceal upper bleeding;however,treatment should be stopped(or not be initiated)in patients with end-stage cirrhosis.NSBB would reduce the cardiac reserve of these patients,worsening systemic perfusion and prognosis.However,it should be emphasized that these studies present important bias issues,and their results also suggested that diuretic treatment may also be behind the effects observed.In this opinion review,we changed the point of view from NSBB to diuretic treatment,based on a physiopathogenic approach of circulatory parameters of cirrhotic patients studied,and based on diuretic effect in blood pressure lowering and in other hypervolemic disease,as heart failure.We suggest a“diuretic window hypothesis”,composed by an open window in hypervolemic phase,an attention window when patient present in a normal plasma volume phase,and a closed window during the plasma hypovolemic phase.
