CALCIUM-CHANNEL BLOCKERS IN CIRRHOTIC-PATIENTS WITH PORTAL-HYPERTENSION

Four calcium channel blockers, i.e. nifedipine, verapamil, cinnarizine and tetrandrine are currently available and used widely in treating c ardiovascular diseases. To confirm the effects, if any, of calcium cha nnel blockers on cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension, a study was performed on esophageal variceal pressure and rebleeding rate of e sophageal varices after 2 years by using calcium channel blocker in 32 1 patients from some 23 hospitals. The results demonstrated that the c alcium channel blockers could significantly reduce the esophageal vari ceal pressure and the portal blood flow in cirrhotic patients with por tal hypertension. The proportion of patients with no recurrent gastroi ntestinal bleeding after 2 years medication of tetrandrine was 87.9% i n tetrandrine group, significantly higher than those in the other 4 gr oups (P< 0.05). It is suggested that tetrandrine should be more effect ive for cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension in preventing recu rrent variceal bleeding.