A Randomized Clinical Trial of Propranolol for the Prevention of Initial Bleeding in Cirrhosis with Portal Hypertension

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Abstract
To the Editor: Propranolol reduces portal hypertension in cirrhosis1 and has been evaluated for the prevention of rebleeding.2 , 3 We report here preliminary results of a multicenter randomized clinical trial in patients with cirrhosis who had never bled but were at high risk of bleeding (patients with large varices on endoscopy: "F3," according to the criteria of the Japanese Research Society for Portal Hypertension4). Subjects with tense ascites, a bilirubin level over 3 mg per deciliter, heart failure, obstructive lung disease, or hepatocellular carcinoma were excluded. This allowed the admission of 174 patients of 220 consecutively observed at four centers . . .