Pharmacological treatment of portal hypertension: an evidence-based approach

Continuing advances in the knowledge of the pathophysiology of portal hypertension result in the progressive expansion of the spectrum of drugs with a potential role for clinical practice, with objectives that now tend to include the prevention of the enlargement or even the development of esophageal varices. This systematic review summarizes the evidence of efficacy of drug therapy for portal hypertension and draws recommendations for clinical practice. Although there is not yet enough evidence to support the treatment for the prevention of the development or enlargement of varices, nonselective beta-blockers are the first-choice therapy to prevent the first bleeding in patients with medium or large-sized varices and rebleeding in patients surviving a bleeding episode. The clinical role of isosorbide-5-mononitrate either alone or in association with beta-blockers still remains unsettled. Vasoactive drugs are generally effective and safe in controlling acute variceal bleeding, although the evidence is not equivalent for each of them.