Doppler evaluation of the effects of pharmacological treatment of portal hypertension

The splanchnic pharmacodynamic effects of the drugs used for the treatment of hemorrhagic complications of portal hypertension were poorly clarified u ntil some years ago. The introduction of Doppler ultrasound provided a powe rful tool to investigate such hemodynamic effects and brought new insights in this field. The present article reviews the pharmacodynamics of the subs tances used in the treatment of portal hypertension, with particular regard to the effects assessable by duplex Doppler ultrasonography. (C) 1999 Worl d Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.