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Updated: Aug 7, 2025
09:37
Invasive Hemodynamic Characterization of the Portal-hypertensive Syndrome in Cirrhotic Rats
Published on: August 1, 2018
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Emerging Therapeutic Targets for Portal Hypertension
Eric Felli1,2, Yelidousi Nulan1,2, Sonia Selicean1,2
1Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Current Hepatology Reports
|March 13, 2023
Summary
New therapeutic targets for portal hypertension, a complication of cirrhosis, are emerging. Advances in understanding disease mechanisms are paving the way for novel treatments to improve patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Gastroenterology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Portal hypertension is a major complication of cirrhosis, associated with high mortality.
- Current treatments improve prognosis but are not ideal.
- Understanding pathophysiologic processes reveals new therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel therapeutic targets for portal hypertension.
- To highlight advances in understanding key pathophysiologic processes.
- To summarize new agents targeting these mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent research on portal hypertension mechanisms.
- Identification of intrahepatic and gut-liver axis pathways.
- Summary of studies on new therapeutic agents.
Main Results:
- New mechanisms modulating portal pressure include inflammation, fibrogenesis, vascular occlusion, and endothelial dysfunction.
- The gut-liver axis influences splanchnic vasodilatation and liver fibrosis.
- Emerging agents target these pathways to reduce portal pressure and disease progression.
Conclusions:
- New agents offer complementary mechanisms for treating portal hypertension.
- These treatments can limit disease progression and promote fibrosis regression.
- Significant changes in treatment paradigms for cirrhosis are expected.
Keywords:
Cirrhosis of the liverEndothelial dysfunctionFibrosisHepatic vascular resistancePortal hypertensionMore Related Videos
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