Nonselective beta-blockers in cirrhotic patients with no or small varices: A meta-analysis

Table 1 Information of included studies

Ref.	Year	Study design and regions	Period of enrollment	Target population	Groups	Definitions of small varices	n
Andreani et al[11]	1990	Multi-center RCT from two centers in Paris	Nov. 1985 to Feb. 1988	LC without previous bleeding, but with esophageal varices (small or large)	Propranolol vs placebo	Non-confluent esophageal varices flattened by insufflation	84
Conn et al[16]	1991	Multi-center double-blinded RCT from three centers in the United States and Spain	Oct. 1982 to Aug. 1986	LC without previous bleeding, but with esophageal varices (small or large)	Propranolol vs placebo	Diameter: 1-3 mm with Valsalva	102
Calés et al[12]	1999	Multi-center double-blinded RCT from 14 centers in France	April 1991 to June 1993	LC without varices or small esophageal varices	Propranolol vs placebo	Diameter: < 5 mm	206
Merkel et al[14]	2004	Multi-center single-blinded RCT from seven hospitals in Italy	Dec. 1996 to April 2000	LC with small varices	Nadolol vs placebo	F1 without red signs according to Beppu et al[27] (small straight varices, minimally elevated on the esophageal mucosal surface)	161
Groszmann et al[13]	2005	Multi-center double-blinded RCT from four hospitals in the United States, Spain, and United Kingdom	Aug. 1993 to March 1999	LC with an HVPG of ³ 6 mmHg, and without gastroesophageal varices	Timolol vs placebo	NA	213
Sarin et al[15]	2013	Single-center single-blinded RCT in India	Oct. 2004 to June 2007	LC with small varices, without any history of variceal bleed	Propranolol vs placebo	Grade 1 or 2 according to the classification of Conn[28] or small according to de Franchis et al[29]	150

HVPG: Hepatic venous pressure gradient; LC: Liver cirrhosis; RCT: Randomized controlled trial.