The Beneficial Effect of Beta-Blockers in Patients With Cirrhosis, Portal Hypertension and Ascites

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences
Ariel W AdayDon C Rockey

Abstract

Patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertensive complications have reduced survival. As such, it has been suggested that nonselective beta-blocker therapy in patients with advanced ascites is harmful. The aim of this study was, therefore, to determine the risk of mortality in patients with cirrhosis and ascites taking nonselective beta-blocker therapy for the prevention of variceal hemorrhage. This study was a retrospective analysis of 2,419 patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension admitted to Parkland Memorial Hospital (a university-affiliated county teaching hospital) from 2003-2010. Patients were subdivided into those with varices only, ascites only and those with both varices and ascites. The primary outcome measure for this study was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Overall, 68 of 1,039 (6.5%) patients taking beta-blockers died during their hospitalization, while 223 of 1,380 (16.2%) patients not taking beta-blockers died (P < 0.001). Beta-blocker use was also assessed in specific cohorts; mortality was 21.1% in patients with severe ascites with varices who were not taking beta-blockers compared with 8.9% in patients who were taking beta-blockers (P = 0.05). Overall, fewer patients taking beta-blockers died compared...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jun 8, 2017·Liver Transplantation : Official Publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society·Carlos Moctezuma-VelazquezJuan G Abraldes
Jan 12, 2017·BMJ Open Gastroenterology·Sara Blasco-AlgoraConrado Fernández-Rodriguez
Dec 8, 2019·The Annals of Pharmacotherapy·Amanda C BultasWilliam B Call
May 5, 2018·Digestive Diseases and Sciences·Antonio FacciorussoNicola Muscatiello
Feb 29, 2020·Ci Ji Yi Xue Za Zhi = Tzu-chi Medical Journal·Tsung-Hsing HungHsing-Feng Lee

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