Acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is a common and sometimes fatal complication seen in cirrhosis patients occurring at a rate of around 10% to 15% per year. Studies have shown the risk of re-bleeding at 5 days and 42 days range between 2% to 8% and 3% to 30%, respectively. Additionally, the rate of mortality at 5 days and 42 days ranges between 8% and 20%, with uncontrolled hemorrhage followed by sepsis being the most common cause. The standard treatment for AVB includes intravenous vasoactive drugs, such as terlipressin, somatostatin, vasopressin, etc., along with endoscopic variceal band ligation. However, the optimal duration of vasoactive therapy post with endoscopic variceal band ligation is a matter of debate. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of 1-day terlipressin therapy vs. 3 days of terlipressin in cirrhosis patients with AVB post-endoscopic intervention. The primary objective was to compare the re-bleeding rates at 5 days between the two groups. The secondary objectives were to compare re-bleeding and mortality at 6 weeks and the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) response rate. The findings of the study showed that:

1 day of terlipressin showed similar results for re-bleeding rates at 5 days, 42 days mortality and HVPG response rate after 3 days.