The pharmacologic treatment of portal hypertension.

Surgical procedures that lower portal pressure, such as portacaval shunts, prevent variceal hemorrhage. Portal hypertension is the result of increased flow and increased resistance in the portal system. Pharmacologic therapy is aimed at altering these factors by the use of vasoconstrictors to reduce flow and vasodilators to decrease resistance. The current status of pharmacologic agents to achieve these effects is reviewed.