Research Article: Non-Selective Beta-Blockers and Risk of Sepsis in Patients with Cirrhosis and Ascites: Results from a Large Observational Study
Introduction:
In patients with cirrhosis, infections are a leading cause of mortality, and sepsis is the most severe manifestation of infection. The barrier of the gut is important in keeping the potentially invasive microbes residing in the intestinal tract separated from the host. In cirrhosis, portal hypertension is found to increase gut permeability, making bacterial components able to translocate across the barrier. – Translocation of gut bacteria to the portal blood is a likely route to sepsis in these patients, and…
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