Pharmacologic management of portal hypertension

Clin Liver Dis. 2014 May;18(2):303-17. doi: 10.1016/j.cld.2013.12.003. Epub 2014 Feb 25.

Abstract

Progress in the knowledge of the pathophysiology of portal hypertension has disclosed new targets for therapy, resulting in a larger spectrum of drugs with a potential role for clinical practice. This review focuses on pharmacologic treatments already available for reducing portal pressure and summarizes drugs currently under investigation in this field.

Keywords: Chronic liver disease; Drug therapy; Hepatic resistance; Portal pressure; Splanchnic blood flow.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Carbazoles / therapeutic use
  • Carvedilol
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Hypertension, Portal / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension, Portal / physiopathology
  • Liver Circulation / drug effects
  • Lypressin / analogs & derivatives
  • Lypressin / therapeutic use
  • Portal Pressure / drug effects
  • Propanolamines / therapeutic use
  • Renin-Angiotensin System / drug effects
  • Somatostatin / analogs & derivatives
  • Somatostatin / therapeutic use
  • Splanchnic Circulation / drug effects
  • Terlipressin
  • Vascular Resistance / drug effects
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Carbazoles
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Propanolamines
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Carvedilol
  • Lypressin
  • Somatostatin
  • Terlipressin