[Therapy of acute variceal hemorrhage and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in liver cirrhosis].

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and varices bleeding are the most dangerous complications of liver cirrhosis. Symptoms of SBP are often nonspecific. SBP is diagnosed in the presence of more than 250 granulocytes/ml ascites and/or positive ascites cultures. Antibiotic prophylactic therapy is indicated after the first episode of SBP or primarily if ascites proteins is low (< 10 g/l). The varices bleeding should by treated endoscopically. In case of bleeding portal venous pressure can be lowered by infusion of somatostatin or vasopressin long-active analogues. In long-term therapy of portal hypertension non-selective betablockers or nitrates are effective.