β blockers to prevent decompensation of cirrhosis in patients with clinically significant portal hypertension (PREDESCI): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 393; no. 10181; pp. 1597 - 1608
• Main Authors: Villanueva, Càndid, Albillos, Agustín, Genescà, Joan, Garcia-Pagan, Joan C, Calleja, José L, Aracil, Carles, Bañares, Rafael, Morillas, Rosa M, Poca, María, Peñas, Beatriz, Augustin, Salvador, Abraldes, Juan G, Alvarado, Edilmar, Torres, Ferran, Bosch, Jaume
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 20.04.2019; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - administration & dosage; Adult; Aged; Ascites; Ascites - prevention & control; Bleeding; Carvedilol - administration & dosage; Cirrhosis; Clinical significance; Clinical trials; Death; Double-Blind Method; Double-blind studies; Drug dosages; Drug therapy; Encephalopathy; Evidence-based medicine; Female; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - prevention & control; Hepatic Encephalopathy - prevention & control; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension, Portal - complications; Hypertension, Portal - drug therapy; Hypertension, Portal - mortality; Incidence; Intravenous administration; Life expectancy; Liver; Liver cirrhosis; Liver Cirrhosis - complications; Liver Cirrhosis - drug therapy; Liver Cirrhosis - mortality; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Patients; Proportional Hazards Models; Propranolol; Propranolol - administration & dosage; Randomization; Risk reduction; Severity of Illness Index; Titration

Clinical decompensation of cirrhosis is associated with poor prognosis. Clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH), defined by a hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) ≥10 mm Hg, is the strongest predictor of decompensation. This study aimed at assessing whether lowering HVPG with β blockers...