Carvedilol or propranolol in portal hypertension? A randomized comparison

Carvedilol delays the progression of small oesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis: a randomised placebo-controlled trial

“…The Spanish group24 showed that the number of HVPG responders was significantly higher with use of carvedilol compared with propranolol over 11.1±4.1 weeks (54% vs 23%; p<0.05). Another recent study by Hobolth et al 25 showed that overall HVPG reduction at 90 days was higher with carvedilol compared with propanolol (19.3±16.1% and 12.5±16.7%, p=0.21).…”

Rifaximin has no effect on hemodynamics in decompensated cirrhosis: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial

“…For sample size calculation, a type I error of 0.05 was chosen. Sample size calculations were performed for the primary outcomes HVPG and GFR (a mean HVPG of 18 mm Hg and a mean GFR of 69 mL/minute) . Sample size calculation for CO was not performed.…”

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy in the pre- and post-liver transplantation phase

“…In this way, selective beta-blockers (beta1 and beta2) without alphablocking activity would appear better than non-selective alphabeta1/2 blockers, due to their ability to avoid further vasodilation. However, recent studies showed that carvedilol, a non-selective blocker that possess a-blocking activity on top of b1/b2 blockade, is well tolerated and as effective, or even more effective, than selective propranolol (selective b1/b2 blocker) in reducing portal hypertension [20,21]. As for diuretics (loop-diuretics and aldosterone antagonists) that are often given to cirrhotics with and without cardiomyopathy to treat hypervolemia, insufficient data are available on whether such treatments affect the outcome in cirrhotics with cardiomyopathy.…”