When the liver is damaged for a long time, it develops scars in the tissue, a condition known as fibrosis. Over time, this can lead to portal hypertension, a condition where blood pressure increases in the veins of the gastrointestinal system. This can cause serious health problems, including internal bleeding and organ failure.
A recent study from MedUni Vienna found that as portal hypertension worsens, inflammation in the body also increases. This means that people with severe liver disease not only have high blood pressure in their veins but also experience a stronger inflammatory response throughout their body.
Doctors have long used beta-blockers, a common type of medication for high blood pressure, to treat portal hypertension. However, these drugs only work effectively in about 50% to 60% of patients. The new study discovered that beta-blockers do more than just lower blood pressure—they also help reduce inflammation in people with advanced liver disease.
In the study, researchers looked at inflammation markers in the blood of patients before and after taking beta-blockers. They found that people in the later stages of cirrhosis (severe liver scarring) had higher levels of inflammation and were more likely to benefit from the anti-inflammatory effects of beta-blockers.
These patients had lower white blood cell counts after taking the medication, meaning their body had fewer signs of inflammation.
More importantly, those who took beta-blockers experienced fewer complications from portal hypertension and had a lower risk of death. This suggests that beta-blockers could play a bigger role in managing liver disease than previously thought.
The researchers believe these findings could help identify which patients will benefit the most from beta-blockers. With further clinical trials, doctors may be able to predict the success of beta-blocker treatment more accurately, ensuring that patients receive the best possible care.
This study was led by Thomas Reiberger and published in the journal Gut. The results highlight the potential of beta-blockers not just as blood pressure medications but also as treatments that may improve survival rates for people with advanced liver disease.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about simple habit that could give you a healthy liver, and common diabetes drug that may reverse liver inflammation.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about simple blood test that could detect your risk of fatty liver disease, and results showing this green diet may strongly lower non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
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