studies

592A AASLD ABSTRACTS HEPATOLOGY, October, 2015
768
Effect of nonselective beta-blockade on prehepatic
portal hypertension evaluated in patients by combined
spleen pulp and hepatic venous pressure gradient measurements
Michael Sørensen 1 , Lars P. Larsen 2 , Gerda E. Villadsen 1 , Niels
Kristian Aagaard 1 , Henning Grønbæk 1 , Peter Ott 1 , Hendrik Vilstrup
1 , Susanne Keiding 1,3 ; 1 Dept. of Hepatology & Gastroenterology,
Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; 2 Dept. of
Radiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; 3 Dept.
of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital,
Aarhus, Denmark
Prehepatic portal hypertension is a clinically important cause
of esophageal and gastric varices. β-blockers have an established
prophylactic role against development and bleeding
from esophageal and gastric varices in intrahepatic portal
hypertension but the effect on prehepatic portal hypertension
is unknown. Here, we evaluated the effect of β-blockade on the
pressure gradient from spleen pulp to free hepatic vein which
determines the overall risk of developing varices in prehepatic
portal hypertension. Material and Methods: Ten patients underwent
combined measurements of the pressure in the spleen pulp
and hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) while on and off
treatment with propranolol (n=9) or carvedilol (n=1). Results:
The spleen to free hepatic vein pressure gradient decreased
in eight patients, increased slightly in one patient, and was
unchanged in one patient. The mean gradient was 29 mm
Hg without treatment and 24 mm Hg with treatment (P