Endoscopic intravascular esophageal pressure measurements in cirrhotic patients: response to metoclopramide.

This study reports the effects of metoclopramide (10 mg i.v.) on intravascular esophageal variceal pressure in 12 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. The esophageal variceal pressure was measured by the direct variceal puncture technique. Metoclopramide caused a reduction in the variceal pressure in 10 out of 12 patients; overall, there was a decrease from 21.5 +/- 5.0 mmHg to 14.0 +/- 3.4 mmHg (p < 0.001). In conclusion, intravenous metoclopramide, which increases lower esophageal sphincter pressure, significantly decreases intravascular variceal pressure in cirrhotic patients.