Detailed Description:
* Study population: Cirrhotic patients with prior decompensation at least 3 months ago
* Study design: A Open label randomized controlled trial
* Sample size Assuming decompensation in Arm 1 as 25%, and 10% in Arm 2, alpha error- 5, power - 80, 160 patients, 10 % lost to follow up - 180, Each arm 90 patients.
* Intervention Arm 1 : Carvedilol Arm 2 : Pentoxiphylline plus Carvedilol
* Monitoring and assessment
At enrollment:
* \- Complete history and physical examination
* Prior ascites, Hepatic encephalopathy, acute variceal bleed.
* Time to prior decompensation
* Pattern and number of prior decompensation
* Prior spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hydrothorax, Acute on chronic liver failure, acute kidney injury
* Use of Non selective beta blockers, norfloxaxin, rifaximin and albumin
* Recent herbal/drugs intake
* History of EVL or other endotherapy
* History of hypertension, diabetes mellitus
* Fever , signs of sepsis
* Examination- Sarcopenia, fraility, icterus, pedal edema
At follow-up (at 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, 12 month): Physical (preferably)
• Complete history and physical examination
* New onset ascites, Hepatic encephalopathy, acute variceal bleed, clinical Jaundice
* Time to new decompensation from enrollment
* Pattern and number of new decompensation
* Other complications - Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hydrothorax, Acute on chronic liver failure, acute kidney injury.
* Recent herbal/drugs intake
* History of EVL or other endotherapy
* Hypertension, Diabetes control
* Fever , signs of sepsis
* Examination- Sarcopenia, fraility, icterus, pedal edema, ascites, Hepatic encephalopathy
Clinical evaluation
* Etiology of chronic liver disease (Baseline)
* Control of etiological factor (Baseline, 3 monthly) Alcohol - No relapse, if relapse - severity HBV - on antivirals, HBV DNA -ve HCV - HCV RNA -ve Metabolic risk factors control- DM, HT, weight etc.
* Severity of liver disease (Baseline, 3 monthly) MELD score, MELD-Na score, CTP score
* Complications (at 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, 12 month):
Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy, Portal hypertension related bleed, clinical jaundice, ascites, hyponatremia, Acute kidney injury, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, Infections
Laboratory parametres
* Baseline (at enrollment) - Blood : KFT, LFT, CBC, INR, AFP, TNF-a, IL-6, CRP, VWF, ADAM TS 13 Imaging : USG abdomen, LSM, SSM, ECHO Hemodynamics : HVPG (not mandatory)
* At 3 and 6 month - Blood : KFT, LFT, CBC, INR Imaging : USG abdomen, LSM, SSM
* At 1 year (end of follow-up) Blood : KFT, LFT, CBC, INR, AFP, TNF-a, IL-6, CRP, VWF, ADAM TS 13 Imaging : USG abdomen, LSM, SSM Hemodynamics : HVPG ( not mandatory)
\- STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:
* Data will be reported as mean + SD.
* Categorical variables will be compared using the chi-square test or Fisher exact test
* Normal continuous variables will be compared using the Student's t test
* Non normal continuous variables will be compared using the Mann-Whitney rank-sum test (unpaired data) or the Wilcoxon test (paired data).
* The actuarial probability of survival will be calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test.
* A Cox regression analysis will be performed to identify independent prognostic factors for survival.
* Univariate and multivariate analysis will be used whenever applicable. - Adverse effects Carvedilol - Bradycardia, hypotension, giddiness, diarrhea, insomnia, hyperglycemia, weight gain, increased BUN, increased nonprotein nitrogen (NPN), increased cough, abnormal vision.
Pentoxiphylline - Abdominal discomfort, bloating, diarrhea, Dizziness, headache, flushing, chest pain, arrhythmias, hypertension, dyspnea, tachycardia, and hypotension.
\- Stopping rule If primary end point achieved or any adverse event due to drug