Age

12–75

Sex

ALL

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

Consecutive patients of cirrhosis with portal hypertension who fulfill the following criteria:
1. Diagnosed cases of cirrhosis (by clinical, biochemical and radiological criteria with or without liver biopsy)
2. No history of upper GI bleeding in the past
3. Endoscopically documented large esophageal varices

1. history of gastrointestinal bleeding
2. patients who have received beta blockers for portal hypertension in the past 6 weeks.
3. hepatic encephalopathy
4. ongoing bacterial infection,
5. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
6. active alcoholism or illicit drug abuse
7. alcoholic hepatitis
8. Treatment with antibiotics in the preceding 2 weeks.
9. presence of hepatocellular carcinoma,
10. portal vein thrombosis
11. serum creatinine\>1.5 mg/dL,
12. treatment with vasoactive drugs in the past 6 weeks,
13. history of arterial hypertension, congestive heart failure or arterial occlusive disease, and
14. Refusal to participate.
15. Active smokers.

Probiotics for Portal Hypertension