Long-term drug treatments to improve prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis and to prevent complications due to portal hypertension

Portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis can be improved, not only by surgical or interventional shunt placements, but also by drug-only treatment. Many recent studies addressed the question whether any of these substances can improve survival of patients with liver cirrhosis when administered continuously for months and years. Non-selective beta-blockers (NSBB), statins, antibiotics, enoxaparin and albumin have been shown to possess many beneficial effects in the pathophysiology of portal hypertension or on events leading to decompensation of liver cirrhosis. Accordingly, they represent candidate drugs for long-term treatment to improve patient survival. In contrast to NSBB, antibiotics and albumin, which have clearly defined indications in the treatment of complications related to portal hypertension, the role of statins and anticoagulants in the management of these patients remains to be further elucidated. Recent studies came to opposing results when a permanent treatment was tested to improve patient prognosis or to prevent liver decompensation. At present, there is no reason to change our everyday practice beyond established management proposals published in practice guidelines. This paper gives an overview of present and future indications for treatment with NSBB, antibiotics, statins, anticoagulants and albumin with special reference to studies aiming at improving prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis.