Advances in the effect of carvedilol in prevention and treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis

Carvedilol is a new non-selective beta blocker, and studies have proven that the effect of carvedilol in receptor blocking is 2-4 times that of propranolol. Carvedilol is widely used in the treatment of heart failure. However, there are still controversies over its effect in reducing portal pressure and preventing esophageal variceal bleeding. This article analyzes and compares the clinical application of carvedilol, propranolol, and endoscopic variceal ligation in the prevention and treatment of bleeding and summarizes the pharmacological action, clinical effect, dose, and adverse reactions of carvedilol. It is pointed out that carvedilol can significantly improve hemodynamic disorder caused by portal hypertension and thus may become a new drug for the prevention and treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding