PPIs and Gastroesophageal Varices in Liver Cirrhosis (PPIs: Proton Pump Inhibitors)

This study is aimed at investigating the effect of PPIs on gastroesophageal varices in liver cirrhosis. Half of participants will receive PPI, while the other half will receive a placebo.

PPIs can inhibit parietal cell H+/K+-ATPase and reduce secretion of gastric acid. PPIs can promote platelet aggregation and stabilize the formation of fibrin thrombosis by maintaining the high pH environment in the stomach and inactivating pepsin. The effect of PPIs on ulcerative upper gastrointestinal bleeding was confirmed but it is not clear whether PPIs is applicable in esophagogastric variceal bleeding whose etiology and bleeding position are different from ulcerative upper gastrointestinal bleeding. There is lack of consensus and sufficient evidences to support to use PPIs in esophagogastric variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients universally. Nevertheless, the use of PPIs in liver cirrhotic patients with gastroesophageal varices is common.