RESUMO
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Following treatment with beta blockers in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, reduction of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) to <12 mmHg or by >20% of baseline induces an extremely low risk of variceal bleeding. However, several factors such as compliance to therapy or alcohol abstinence may change the initial response after a long follow-up, and the effect of response on other complications of cirrhosis is less clear. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term maintenance of hemodynamic response and its influence on complications of cirrhosis. METHODS: One hundred and thirty two cirrhotic patients received nadolol and isosorbide mononitrate to prevent variceal rebleeding. HVPG was measured at baseline, after 1 to 3 months under treatment and again 12 to 18 months later. RESULTS: Sixty four patients were responders. After a longer follow-up, earlier response did not change in 81% of cases. Changes of response were mainly related to modifications in medication dose or in alcohol intake. As compared with poor-responders, responders had a lower probability of developing ascites (P<0.001) and related conditions, a greater improvement of Child-Pugh score (P=0.03), and a lower likelihood of developing encephalopathy (P=0.001) and of requiring liver transplantation (P=0.002). Eleven responders and 22 poor-responders died (P=0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamic response to treatment of portal hypertension is usually sustained after a long-term follow-up. Response decreases the probability of developing complications of cirrhosis and the need for liver transplantation, and significantly improves survival.