POSITION AND CONTROVERSY WITH BETA-BLOCKERS IN CIRRHOSIS IN 2018

Ismail Triki

doi:10.21767/2575-7733-C1-012

POSITION AND CONTROVERSY WITH BETA-BLOCKERS IN CIRRHOSIS IN 2018

11^th Annual European Conference on Gastroenterology

March 11-12, 2019 | Amsterdam, Netherlands

Ismail Triki

Hospital Centre of Saint Quentin, France

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol

Abstract:

The efficacy of non-selective beta-blockers (NSBBs) has been well established for the primary and secondary prophylaxis of variceal hemorrhage. With the progressive increase of portal hypertension over time in cirrhotic patients, blood pressure gradually decreases and heart rate increases to ensure appropriate perfusion of organs (especially the kidney). The use of NSBBs in severe cirrhotic patients in unstable hemodynamic conditions (especially after a spontaneousbacterial peritonitis (SBP) or in the presence of refractory ascites) increases the risk of hepatorenal syndrome and death, by counteracting the compensatory increase in cardiac output. In patients with decompensated cirrhosis or experiencing a drop in blood pressure, NSBBs should be stopped either transiently or definitively, depending on the hemodynamic outcome. Several studies have reported a deleterious effect of NSBBs after a SBP or in patients with refractory ascites. However, these findings lack of robustness since most of themcome from observational studies yielding a selection bias that cannot be entirely controlled even though sophisticated statistical approaches were applied. A close monitoring of renal function, serum sodium and blood pressure could allow a more appropriate management of NSBBs in patients hemodynamically unstable.Hence, in patients with compensated cirrhosis, the dose of propranolol and nadolol may be progressively increased, and carvedilol, a NSBB with intrinsic a1-blockage (which increases the hypotensive effect), may be used cautiously at a maximum dose of 12.5 mg/day. In patients with refractory ascites or SBP, NSBBs should be discontinued or reduced when systolic blood pressure decreases below90 mmHg or serum creatinine increases over 133 mmol/L ; furthermore, the dose of propranolol and nadolol should never exceed 160 mg/day and 80 mg/day, respectively, and carvedilol should be avoided in this context.