Complete abstinence from alcohol is considered a cornerstone in the treatment of patients with alcohol-related liver disease. It has not yet been sufficiently researched whether this measure can still improve the prognosis even in the case of advanced liver cirrhosis.
Beta-blockers show anti-inflammatory effects in cirrhosis
Approximately 170,000 people die every year in Europe from the direct consequences of advanced chronic liver disease (cirrhosis). In Austria, cirrhosis of the liver is usually due to a fatty liver resulting from excessive alcohol consumption or overeating and/or poor diet and - thanks to effective antiviral therapies - less common due to viral hepatitis. Chronic liver damage leads to scarring (fibrosis) of the liver tissue, which can ultimately lead to increased blood pressure in the vascular system of the gastrointestinal tract (i.e. portal hypertension).
Portal hypertension can result in serious complications such as ascites and variceal bleeding. A paper recently published by Thomas Reiberger s research group at MedUni Vienna has already shown that increasing severity of portal hypertension is paralleled by inflammatory reactions in the body (systemic inflammation). Pronounced systemic inflammation may ultimately trigger