Hemodynamic effect of propranolol on portal hypertension in patients with HBsAg-positive cirrhosis.

Wedged hepatic venous pressure, free hepatic venous pressure, and cardiac index were measured before and one hour after intravenous and one month after chronic oral administration of propranolol in nine patients with HBsAg-positive cirrhosis. The gradient between wedged hepatic venous pressure and free hepatic venous pressure was decreased 22.7% at one hour after intravenous administration of 5 mg propranolol, and a sustained decrease in hepatic venous pressure gradient was also demonstrated in five patients after one month of continuous oral administration of propranolol. Thus, we conclude that chronic oral administration of propranolol can reduce the hepatic venous pressure gradient in patients with compensated HBsAg-positive cirrhosis.