Background: Patients with liver cirrhosis and large oesophageal varices run a high risk of digestive haemorrhage due to the rupture of oesophageal varices, an event associated with a high mortality. At present, the only treatment for the prevention of first bleeding from oesophageal varices on which there is general agreement is drug-based. In order to tailor drug treatment to the requirements of individual patients more precisely, an ever-increasing number of drugs is being investigated.

Design: Double-blind cross-over study.

Methods: Sixteen cirrhotic patients with large oesophageal varices were studied by means of duplex-Doppler ultrasonography to determine variations in portal haemodynamics after oral administration of 0.150 mg clonidine and to compare these with the variations observed after oral administration of 40 mg propranolol.

Results: Propranolol caused a significant reduction in maximum portal flow velocity (P < 0.001), whereas clonidine failed to cause any such variation (P = 0.194). Considering as responders those patients who exhibited at least a 10% decrease in maximum portal flow velocity, 11 patients responded to propranolol; of these, three also responded to clonidine. No patient responded only to clonidine.

Conclusion: The absence of any effects on the parameters of portal haemodynamics would appear to deny clonidine any significant role in preventing first bleeding resulting from the rupture of oesophageal varices.

Download full-text PDF

Source

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

oesophageal varices
20
portal haemodynamics
12
double-blind cross-over
8
duplex-doppler ultrasonography
8
large oesophageal
8
rupture oesophageal
8
oral administration
8
maximum portal
8
portal flow
8
flow velocity
8

Similar Publications

Background: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an effective intervention for managing complications of portal hypertension, particularly acute variceal bleeding (AVB). While effective in reducing portal pressure and preventing rebleeding, TIPS is associated with a considerable risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE), a complication that significantly elevates mortality rates.

Aim: To develop a machine learning (ML) model to predict OHE occurrence post-TIPS in patients with AVB using a 5-year dataset.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common and potentially fatal medical emergency. This study aimed to investigate the frequency, causes, outcomes, and efficacy of endoscopy in the treatment of UGIB at King Fahad Central Hospital in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Between January 2017 and December 2023, a retrospective study was performed including all hospitalized patients with UGIB.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Non-invasive approach other than conventional endoscopy could be effectively used for screening and monitoring esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB).

Purpose: To retrospectively investigate the role of four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an add-on tool to endoscopy for predicting EVB in cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices (EVs).

Material And Methods: A cohort of 109 cirrhotic patients with EVs was divided into four groups: A = negative red color [RC] sign, no EVB, n = 60; B = negative RC sign, EVB, n = 13; C = positive RC sign, no EVB, n = 10; and D = positive RC sign, EVB, n = 26.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) leads to portal hypertension (PH) with its sequelae. Computed tomography spleno-mesenterico-portography (CT-SMPG) combines sequential CT spleno-portography and CT mesenterico-portography. CT-SMPG comprehensively illustrates the venous hemodynamic changes due to PH.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background Although endoscopic resection (ER) is recommended as first-choice treatment for early esophageal neoplasia, patients with esophageal varices are considered a high-risk group due to an increased bleeding risk. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ER in this specific patient category. Methods We searched for studies reporting on clinical outcomes of ER in presence of esophageal varices, irrespective of study design or follow-up time.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!