Propranolol improves endothelial dysfunction in advanced cirrhosis: the 'endothelial exhaustion hypothesis

We read with interest the recent work of Leithead and coworkers about the use of non-selective β-blockers (NSBBs) in patients in the transplant waiting list. They studied 322 patients, among those 117 had refractory ascites and observed higher survival rate in those using NSBB, including the ones with refractory ascites (HR mortality=0.35; confidence interval (CI) 95%: 0.14 to 0.86).1 However, the use of NSBB has been a polemic issue since the hypothesis proposed by Krag and coworkers suggesting the existence of a ‘therapeutic window’, according to which NSBB would not be beneficial to patients in early or end-stage cirrhosis with refractory ascites, when it would impair the compensatory cardiac output increase, worsening organ perfusion in decompensated cirrhosis.2 Considering current controversies about the use of propranolol (PPL) in advanced cirrhosis, and its possible deleterious effect on haemodynamic and organ perfusion, we have investigated the endothelial function...
Source: Gut - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: PostScript Source Type: research