Acute hemodynamiC Response To Carvedilol Predicts Survival in ACLF Patients - "ACT - C ACLF Study

Clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) is defined as HVPG >10 mmHg. Patients with CSPH are at risk of developing esophageal varices and clinical decompensation (variceal bleeding, ascites, jaundice, encephalopathy), which mark the transition from compensated stage to a stage of the disease (decompensated) associated with higher mortality (1). HVPG is calculated by subtracting the free hepatic venous pressure (FHVP), a measure of systemic pressure, from the wedged hepatic venous pressure (WHVP), a measure of hepatic sinusoidal pressure. HVPG is surrogate marker in many clinical applications such as gold standard test to evaluate presence and severity of portal hypertension (PHT) diagnosis, risk stratification, monitoring of the patients on beta blockers (2). Non selective beta-blockers like propranolol and carvedilol are indicated in adults for primary and secondary prophylaxis of variceal hemorrhage. Acute hemodynamic response to intravenous propranolol with HVPG values coming down to <12 mm Hg or reduction to >20% from baseline have been shown to be associated with reduced long term risk of variceal bleed. Hence we are planning the current work to study the Acute hemodynamiC response To Carvedilol predicts survival in ACLF patients - "ACT - C ACLF study