Chronic liver damage is a serious problem that harms the liver over time. It causes scarring, known as fibrosis, which makes it harder for the liver to work properly.
As more scars form, it can raise the pressure in the veins around the stomach and intestines.
This is called portal hypertension, and it can lead to dangerous problems like bleeding, fluid buildup in the belly, and confusion caused by toxins in the brain.
But there is some good news. A recent study from MedUni Vienna found that common blood pressure medicines called beta-blockers may do more than just lower blood pressure. They might also help reduce harmful inflammation in people with advanced liver disease.
Doctors have been using beta-blockers for years to treat portal hypertension. However, they only worked well in about half of the patients.
The new research shows that beta-blockers might have another benefit: reducing inflammation that spreads throughout the body, which is known as systemic inflammation. This kind of inflammation can make liver disease worse.
In the study, researchers looked at signs of inflammation in people before and during treatment with beta-blockers. They found that people with severe liver disease, such as advanced cirrhosis, often had high levels of inflammation. These were the patients who gained the most from taking beta-blockers.
After starting the medication, the patients had lower levels of inflammation markers, like fewer white blood cells. They also had fewer serious problems from portal hypertension and a lower chance of dying.
The study also showed that when portal hypertension gets worse, inflammation in the body also goes up. This means beta-blockers might be helpful not just for lowering pressure in the veins, but also for calming inflammation that damages the liver and other organs.
The researchers hope that in the future, doctors can use these findings to better choose which patients will benefit from beta-blockers. This could help improve treatment and give better advice to people with advanced liver disease.
This study adds to growing evidence that beta-blockers are an important part of treating liver disease. It also reminds us that different parts of the body—like the immune system and blood vessels—are connected. When one part gets sick, others can be affected too.
Of course, people should never change or stop their medications without talking to a doctor. Every person is different, and the right treatment depends on your overall health and medical history.
Chronic liver damage can be caused by things like drinking too much alcohol, infections like hepatitis, immune system problems, and inherited conditions.
When the scarring becomes severe, it blocks blood flow and raises pressure in the portal vein. This leads to problems like bleeding in the stomach, fluid in the belly (ascites), and brain problems (hepatic encephalopathy).
Treatments for liver disease and portal hypertension include lifestyle changes, medications like beta-blockers, and in severe cases, a liver transplant.
If you’re interested in keeping your liver healthy, other studies have shown that eating a lot of dairy foods might raise the risk of liver cancer, while vitamin D may protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
And when it comes to managing blood pressure, avoiding unhealthy habits can help. Research shows that people with high blood pressure can cut their heart attack risk in half by taking the right steps.
This study on beta-blockers and liver disease was led by Thomas Reiberger and published in the journal Gut.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about high blood pressure treatment: ARBs vs. ACE inhibitors and blood pressure response to exercise can predict future heart disease.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies about This daily food is very important for blood pressure and heart health and Common blood pressure medication may have harmful side effects.
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