Pharmacologic therapy for portal hypertension

Pharmacologic therapy for portal hypertension is effective in the treatment and prevention of hemorrhage from esophagogastric varices. Acute hemorrhage from varices can be treated with intravenous agents such as somatostatin or terlipressin, either alone or in combination with endoscopic sclerotherapy or band ligation. Intravenous octreotide has not shown effectiveness as monotherapy, but it appears to be beneficial when combined with endoscopic treatment. The prevention of rebleeding after initial hemorrhage is best accomplished with non-selective beta blockers, endoscopic band ligation of varices, or a combination of endoscopic and pharmacologic therapies. The addition of oral nitrates may further decrease rebleeding rates, but more data from randomized trials are needed. Beta blockers are currently the only agents recommended for the primary prevention of variceal hemorrhage.