Tag: Variceal bleeding

Approximately 60%-80% of individuals with liver cirrhosis develop esophageal varices, a direct consequence of portal hypertension. Understanding what drugs are used to reduce portal hypertension is crucial for managing and preventing life-threatening complications, particularly bleeding.

In the United States, the prevalence of cirrhosis is approximately 2.6%, with clinically significant portal hypertension affecting nearly 1% of the general population [1.9.1]. The cornerstone of medical management for this condition is pharmacotherapy, so a key question is: what is the drug of choice for portal hypertension? [1.2.5, 1.3.1]

Octreotide is a synthetic, long-acting analog of the naturally occurring hormone somatostatin and is a critical pharmacological agent in the emergency management of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. It primarily serves to reduce portal pressure and blood flow in the splanchnic circulation, making it particularly effective for variceal hemorrhage.