Calcium channel blockers in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.

Abstract

Four calcium channel blockers, i.e. nifedipine, verapamil, cinnarizine and tetrandrine are currently available and used widely in treating cardiovascular diseases. To confirm the effects, if any, of calcium channel blockers on cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension, a study was performed on esophageal variceal pressure and rebleeding rate of esophageal varices after 2 years by using calcium channel blocker in 321 patients from some 23 hospitals. The results demonstrated that the calcium channel blockers could significantly reduce the esophageal variceal pressure and the portal blood flow in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. The proportion of patients with no recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding after 2 years medication of tetrandrine was 87.9% in tetrandrine group, significantly higher than those in the other 4 groups (P < 0.05). It is suggested that tetrandrine should be more effective for cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension in preventing recurrent variceal bleeding.

• Authors: D Li, H Lu, X Li, Q Quan, X Li, W Lu
• Journal: Chinese medical journal (Chin Med J (Engl)) Vol. 108 Issue 11 Pg. 803-8 (Nov 1995) ISSN: 0366-6999 [Print] China
• PMID: 8585970 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Alkaloids
• Benzylisoquinolines
• Calcium Channel Blockers
• tetrandrine
• Cinnarizine
• Verapamil
• Nifedipine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Alkaloids (therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Benzylisoquinolines
• Calcium Channel Blockers (therapeutic use)
• Cinnarizine (therapeutic use)
• Esophageal and Gastric Varices (drug therapy)
• Female
• Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage (prevention & control)
• Humans
• Hypertension, Portal (drug therapy)
• Liver Cirrhosis (complications, drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nifedipine (therapeutic use)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Verapamil (therapeutic use)