Valsartan plus sclerotherapy compared with sclerotherapy alone in cirrhotic patients after variceal bleeding : clinical and haemodynamic randomized trial

ABSTRACT

Background and Aims: Cirrhotic patients who have bleeding from oesophageal varices are at high risk for rebleeding if no definite therapy to prevent rebleeding has been initiated. Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers [ARBs] have been proposed as new drugs for portal hypertension. This randomized prospective clinical trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of long-term valsartan [one of ARBs] treatment for prevention of variceal rebleeding in cirrhotic patients when added to endoscopic sclerotherapy [ES] comparing with ES alone and to assess the effect of valsartan on systemic and portal haemodynamics