Meta-analysis: isosorbide-mononitrate alone or with either beta-blockers or endoscopic therapy for the management of oesophageal varices

TY - JOUR

T1 - Meta-analysis

T2 - isosorbide-mononitrate alone or with either beta-blockers or endoscopic therapy for the management of oesophageal varices

AU - Gluud, L L

AU - Langholz, E

AU - Krag, A

PY - 2010/10

Y1 - 2010/10

N2 - BACKGROUND: The evidence concerning the use of isosorbide-mononitrate (IsMn) for oesophageal varices is equivocal.AIM: To assess the effects of IsMn for patients with oesophageal varices and no previous bleeding (primary prevention) or previous variceal bleeding (secondary prevention).METHODS: Systematic review with meta-analyses of randomized trials on IsMn alone or with beta-blockers or endoscopic therapy for oesophageal varices. Electronic and manual searches were combined. Randomized trials on primary and secondary prevention were included. The primary outcome measure was mortality. Intention-to-treat random effects meta-analyses were performed. The robustness of the results was assessed in trial sequential analyses.RESULTS: Ten randomized trials on primary and 17 on secondary prevention were included. Evidence of bias was identified. No apparent effect of IsMn on mortality compared with placebo or beta-blockers or IsMn plus beta-blockers vs. beta-blockers was identified. Compared with endoscopic therapy, IsMn plus beta-blockers had no apparent effect on bleeding, but did seem to reduce mortality in secondary prevention (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.59-0.89), but not in primary prevention. The effect of IsMn plus beta-blockers on mortality in secondary prevention was not confirmed in trial sequential analysis.CONCLUSIONS: Isosorbide-mononitrate used alone or in combination with beta blockers does not seem to offer any reduction in bleeding in the primary or secondary prevention of oesophageal varices. Compared with endoscopic therapy, there may be a survival advantage in using IsMn and beta-blockers, but additional large multicentre trials are needed to verify this finding.

AB - BACKGROUND: The evidence concerning the use of isosorbide-mononitrate (IsMn) for oesophageal varices is equivocal.AIM: To assess the effects of IsMn for patients with oesophageal varices and no previous bleeding (primary prevention) or previous variceal bleeding (secondary prevention).METHODS: Systematic review with meta-analyses of randomized trials on IsMn alone or with beta-blockers or endoscopic therapy for oesophageal varices. Electronic and manual searches were combined. Randomized trials on primary and secondary prevention were included. The primary outcome measure was mortality. Intention-to-treat random effects meta-analyses were performed. The robustness of the results was assessed in trial sequential analyses.RESULTS: Ten randomized trials on primary and 17 on secondary prevention were included. Evidence of bias was identified. No apparent effect of IsMn on mortality compared with placebo or beta-blockers or IsMn plus beta-blockers vs. beta-blockers was identified. Compared with endoscopic therapy, IsMn plus beta-blockers had no apparent effect on bleeding, but did seem to reduce mortality in secondary prevention (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.59-0.89), but not in primary prevention. The effect of IsMn plus beta-blockers on mortality in secondary prevention was not confirmed in trial sequential analysis.CONCLUSIONS: Isosorbide-mononitrate used alone or in combination with beta blockers does not seem to offer any reduction in bleeding in the primary or secondary prevention of oesophageal varices. Compared with endoscopic therapy, there may be a survival advantage in using IsMn and beta-blockers, but additional large multicentre trials are needed to verify this finding.

KW - Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use

KW - Esophageal and Gastric Varices/drug therapy

KW - Esophagoscopy/methods

KW - Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/prevention & control

KW - Humans

KW - Isosorbide Dinitrate/analogs & derivatives

KW - Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

KW - Statistics as Topic

KW - Treatment Outcome

KW - Vasodilator Agents/therapeutic use

M3 - Review

C2 - 20839387

SN - 0269-2813

VL - 32

SP - 859

EP - 871

JO - Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

JF - Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

IS - 7

ER -