Carvedilol vs propranolol in treatment of portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients with oesophageal varices

Abstract

Portal hypertension occurs in most patient with liver cirrhosis. Carvedilol a non-selective beta-blocker with intrinsic alpha-1 blocker activity has a greater reduction of portal pressure in patients with portal hypertension than Propranolol. In almost 90% of patients with cirrhosis oesophageal varices can be found and about 30% of that varices are at risk of bleeding. The estimated death rate for first episode of variceal haemorrhage is 30-50%.