Treatment for Prevention of Variceal Rebleeding Guided by the Hemodynamic Response

This is a prospective trial of random distribution, open, parallel group, in which patients with esophagic variceal bleeding will be randomized into two treatment groups, after controlling acute bleeding. All patients received standard medical therapy with b-blockers and endoscopic ligation (LEV) of esophageal varices.

The control group will be assigned to receive LEV + Nadolol (N) + Isosorbide Mononitrate (MNI) The experimental group will be assigned to receive treatment according to the hemodynamic response.

All patients included in the experimental group received LEV and pharmacological treatment nadolol alone or combined with MNI or Prazosin (PZ)

A hepatic hemodynamic study will be performed to patients in both groups, at baseline (In which basal values and acute b-blockers response will be assessed), and a second study at the 3 rd -4 th week after the drug therapy start, after the titration of the doses.

In the experimental group, responders to the acute administration of b-blockers will receive LEV + Nadolol alone, and those patients with no response will receive LEV + N + MNI, and another hemodynamic study will be performed 3 rd -4 th week after the drug therapy start, after the titration of the doses, to assess response. The non-responders in this control study will switched to LEV+ N + PZ, and a 3erd hemodynamic study will be performed.

Randomization will be stratified according to the degree of hepatic insufficiency, assessed by the Child-Pugh classification (classes A and B vs C)